It is amazing to live in a century where technology is widely used. Each day, something new is being invented, or the existing ones are being improved. Arguably, life has been made easier by technology. However, the fact that technology has improved human life does not mean that it is perfect as it has brought about some undesired effects. Marx (2015) presents law enforcement as an application area where technology is having an imperative effect. It is true that the reliance on technology has lasting ethical as well as social implications.
Technological approaches in crime reduction are varied. Technology is used to make committing crimes harder by acting as a deterrence to criminals. This is so in areas such as where technology is used to carry out surveillance . It is also used to make it easier to discover wrong doers. This replaces other mechanisms such as use of heavy fortifications that were needed in earlier days. Technology has made possible the exclusion of potential offenders from temptations. This is by having passwords that are required at a particular point of entry especially in buildings. The passwords may be in the form of employee cards or geometric finger patterns. The alarm may go off in some someone makes a forced entry. This then ensures that there is a reduction in the number of crimes that are committed because technology is able to help prevent most of it.
However, technology such as surveillance technology takes away social privileges or rights such as privacy (Marx, 2015). This means that the blind use and application of technology acts as an end as opposed to acting as a means. However, it is true as Marx (2015) asserts that the collateral damage for the use of technology in crime fighting and prevention presents unintended side effects which present some serious ethical as well as moral implications. For instance, uncontrollable wind may send tear gas where it is not needed, affecting individuals who are innocent. However, this level of social side effects are acceptable, especially since technology greatly improves crime control.
Therefore, while technology presents some risks to the society when used in application areas such as crime control, it helps a lot in creating a society with little to no crime. It is, however, imperative to reduce the negative effects or unintended consequences of technology upon the society.
References
Bowling, B., Marks, A., & Murphy, C. C. (2008). Crime Control Technologies: Towards an Analytical Framework and Research Agenda. REGULATING TECHNOLOGIES.
Marx, G. T. (2015). Technology and Social Control. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition, 24, 117-124.
