Assignment
The advancement of technology, whether it’s new or old has always been impactful in regards to human life. Whether it’s the invention of the wheel, the discovery of a new power source, the invention of utilized electricity, or even a modern day treat like the notorious Apple IPhone. All of it affects human life. With that being said, in this piece of writing I am going to discuss a proposal and possible solution in regards to some of the newest technology, like security cameras and government surveillance. As well as the problems for privacy rights that technology does, or does not create, specifically in the major cities of Oakland, California, and New York City, New York. In general, this is an absolute huge topic in America right now, my motivation for this topic comes from the notion of concern in comparison to how much freedom we really have in the United States of America with the increase of the tech-bubble. The tech bubble has been exploding in first world countries since the 1990’s. I believe it is important to study subjects like this now, because whatever technological advancements are implemented in a big city today, will trickle down to all communities of life in our country and affect all of our rights and national legislation by tomorrow.
Research Question:
I will examining an article that was publish by the New York Times, and carries quite an abundance of information on this issue. Specifically in the cities of Oakland, California and New York City, New York like I stated earlier. In recent years, both cities have received huge federal grants ranging in the millions of dollars to incorporate more security cameras, surveillance and data analysis of public location. (Sengupta 1) The reason for these large sums of money distrubted through grants was to apparently thwart terrorist attacks in those areas when initially given, however, the grants and funds given by the federal government ended up in the hands of police departments to collect and analyze date through different parts of the cities. (Sengupta 1) In regard to this activity that is taking place, I would like to find out in a study, how the citizens of these cities feel about the increase in surveillance on public life. My hypothesis for the study would be somewhere along the lines of, “the more government interference in one’s life, will result in a less satisfied, and more paranoid United States citizen.” Thus far, into 2015, the research that has been done seems to looks to be both positive and negative from a government agencies point of view, and civil stance. For instance, the Domain Awareness Center in Oakland states that the increase in local security measures will be helpful to law enforcement, especially in a city that is notorious for crime. (Sengupta 1) Also, as stated before, some of the data collected can be used to stoop terrorist attacks before they are followed through. So there is some positive light being shed on the issue. On the contrary, local critics from magazines and newspapers in Oakland specifically, have shown concern that these government programs for security surveillance, create way too many points of central repository information for the government.
Results:
In other words, data will be collected not only on criminal activities but everyday life of the public. Ranging from casual-everyday movements and normal citizens going about their working lives. This definitely creates a “grey” area of morale and legal issues. There is quite a good amount of research on this. As I stated before, I would like to find out how the average United States citizen feels about this issue, not just “critics” from a magazine or newspaper. I feel like the opinion of the American citizen is vital to the advancement of security technologies and law. As a country we need to understand the fine line between national security, and infringing on people’s rights. Issues like these have never been up for the debate in the past because the technology wasn’t put in place to impact humans in the dramatic fashion like it does today. A good, rather great question to ask yourself is, does this invention of new technologies, such as video surveillance create a slippery slope? If the government creates a justifiable way to watch you in your everyday public-life, at what point will they justify and start monitoring your personal life?
With all of that being said, how do you get your answer to this major question? Personally I would take the exploratory study route. I want to capture what people think about this issue in free-form. I would achieve these answers by posting open-ended questions via online surveys. This way, anyone who cares about the issue can take the initiative and easily go onto the online web and fill out the survey at their disposal. To receive a solid sample of the questions being asked via internet survey, I would leave the data collection open for 6-8 months. To attract interest, I would also purchase local advertisements promoting the survey in local newspapers across the Oakland, and New York City areas. In hopes that I could at least acquire a sample size of several thousand people from completely different coasts. After about 8 months of collecting information and data, I would have the survey answers analyzed by a group of researchers. I would rank each answer to the open-ended questions into three categories. Those being, increased government security makes me feel threatened/paranoid, safe, or neutral/doesn’t affect me. To me, a study like this is very tangible, as I know such technology exists through companies such as IBM, who sell software such as data-mining tools to private entrepreneurs.
Conclusion:
On the contrary, if this research project was funded properly and conducted in the real world, my prediction would be that the results would be a split decision. I feel that most individuals participating in an online survey would have a voiced-opinion about the matter. In that regard, I think people would either be completely against the integration of more government interference in their lives, as we have so much of it already in 2015. I also believe that very few would be neutral in my opinion. In a world of advanced technology, people either love the improvements, or hate them, there is very little ground neutralization. Again, I would be so excited if this was actually conducted in the real world due to the fact that I cannot recall a single moment in time where the United States government cared to ask citizens what they thought about increased security/surveillance of the countries people. Has anyone ever heard of the TSA asking citizens at an airport about how they feel when their luggage gets bombarded?
All in all, one can only hope that the government does this sooner, rather than later. This is an issue at hand in today’s world that isn’t getting enough attention as it should. This problem is not just bounded to Oakland, California, and New York City, New York either. Such cities like Iowa City are making moves to develop monitoring, and surveillance systems. (Sengupta 2) Also, in other states such as Virginia, government agencies are working on advancing drone technology to survey certain areas of specific cities within the states borders. (Sengupta 2) Even an agency branching out of Oklahoma recently had a representative comment on this issue describing it as “a method in which the government can warrantless monitor you.” (Sengupta 3) At some point in the near future the government is going to infringe on somebodies rights, if not the entire nations, and there is going to be one big problem. I feel that it is in the best interest of the United States government, and the average U.S citizen to deal with this problem now and create laws that put a line a sand, if you will. I believe that all of this can be done to, by taking up my proposal of conducting survey research, whether it’s on a computer, phone or tablet over the internet. From there we can see how the people feel about the issue, and then move onto the entire legislative process.
Sources:
Sengupta, Somini. "Privacy Fears Grow as Cities Increase Surveillance." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2013. Web. 19 June 2015.
