Security And Surveillance Americans example essay topic

America The nations new conciseness of terrorism, a product of both fear and anger since Sept l lth has changed the way Americans view security, surveillance and their civil liberties. For many Americans the trade for less privacy and more security seems like a reasonable deal to feel safe in their homeland. For others, it looks as if the government is over stepping the line between national security and spying on Americans, its boundaries and invading our privacy. A major issue causing much concern and debate is privacy. In a technological based world where everything is run by a computer, from your checking account to your e-mails, the government has access and is watching.

Since the government has its hands in just about every aspect of life, some people feel very threatened by this power. In oct 2001 congress approved a Sweeping Anti Terrorism Bill giving authorities a greater power to monitor e-mail, listen in on phone calls and secretly gather information on any individual. The FBI is working on software that could insert a computer virus into a suspect's computer capable of reading encrypted data. The software, known as "Magic Lantern", can capture keystrokes typed on a computer and can be sent by email. This software seems like a good deterrent in viewing or stopping criminal or terrorist groups, but what about invasion of privacy? Wouldn't that be a violation of our civil liberties as Americans?

There are tens of thousands of surveillance cameras around America watching our daily life without us knowing it. While it was easy to spot cameras twenty years ago due to their large size, this has become increasingly difficult during the last decade. Due to this, covert installation in nearly any imaginable place is possible. During the last few years the number of surveillance cameras that have been installed in many public and semi-public places such as universities, streets, supermarkets, gas stations, parking garages, cinemas, bars, shops, busses and train stations has grown to an outstanding rate. There is and should be concern about privacy and personal freedom.

Especially with the growing use of face recognition software which is being strongly crit ized. There is no way of distinguishing ones that are connected to face recognition systems from those that are not. In the near future cameras may even be installed in all taxis, keeping an eye on the passengers. In Houston, Texas, about 400 cabs have been equipped with such cameras. So at any given time the government can know where you are and what you are doing With so much security and surveillance Americans should feel safe in their homeland. The truth is, many Americans feel threatened by some of the actions taken by the American government to secure our way of life.

Some of our freedoms and rights will have to be sacrificed to ensure our freedom. Matt Forester.