The United States government has been faced with undeniable allegations of spying on its citizens in the recent past. The fear of terrorism has prompted our overenthusiastic government to employ tactics that continue to contradict with human rights globally, as well as the fourth amendment. However, the most alarming fact of this surveillance activity is that the spying efforts are not only directed towards suspected criminals and terrorists, but also everyone else. With every step that the government takes to generate more information regarding innocent citizens, so does our faith in it continue to diminish. This paper will examine if the compromise made through violating innocent citizens bill of rights is equivalent to the benefit reaped and if this should even be a matter to be evaluated.
Sources against government surveillance
Kowitt, B. D. (2014). Government backs off use of drones to surveil citizens, but red light camera use explodes. Retrieved from: http://www.ungerandkowitt.com/traffic-ticket-blog/bid/145067/Government- Backs-Off-Use-of-Drones-to-Surveil-Citizens-But-Red-Light-Camera-Use- Explodes
The article examines the recent ruling passed by the senate judiciary commission restricting the use of drones in surveillance by the government. The article established the various ways that the government has substituted the surveillance that was being performed by the drones. This includes the use of red light camera. These cameras appear to have brought more disaster than remedy as they continue to work against the common citizen. Any attempt to challenge a ticket issued through the help of this cameras attracts a fine of $158 with double that if the victim decides to challenge the matter in court. As a result, these cameras are stripping the citizens the basic right for the court to validate evidence that is being offered as proof against them. Moreover, since these cameras keep popping up all over the roads, they may interfere with public safety, as a driver has to keep track of every camera on the roads.
Ghitis, F. (2013, Oct 25). U. S needs to get spying under control. CNN. Retrieved from: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/25/opinion/ghitis-u-s-spying/
The effects of electronic spying have become very serious and costly debate to the economy of the United States every day. Recently, the Brazilian president cancelled a trip to the states over new evidence presented to her revealing scrupulous NSA eavesdropping tactics. Researchers argue that if the United States monitoring activities become public knowledge, numerous countries will be forced to take a stand against the United States. The harm done through such an event will undoubtedly exceed the benefits reaped by the government through these monitoring efforts.
Jaycox, M. M. (2014, Jan 22). Update: polls continue to show a majority of Americans against NSA spying: Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved from: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/10/polls-continue-show-majority- americans-against-nsa-spying
In January 2014, this article through the polls confirmed that most Americans are concerned with the surveillance program headlined by the NSA. Notably, over 66% of Americans participating in the poll were concerned with the collection and use of their personal information by the national security agency (NSA). More recently, another poll revealed that the majority of American’s did not agree with the act of the government-collecting phone and internet data for anti- terrorism activities. Over 59% also wanted surveillance reforms as a whole while the 63% demanded more oversight in the spying programs.
The Guardian. (2013, Dec 9). Internet leaders speak out on the need for government reform of surveillance. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2013/dec/09/internet-leaders- speak-out-on-the-need-for-government-reform-of-surveillance
This article publishes the statements of major internet company executives who publicly declare their stand on the matter regarding the government using their sites to spy on unknowing citizens through the internet. Marissa Mayer, the chief executive of Yahoo states that protecting the privacy of yahoo users is exceedingly important and that the government needs to step up and restore the confidence of citizens, as well as internet users around the world. Tim Armstrong of AOL, Larry Page of Google, and Mark Zuckerberg were also among the top executives from internet related companies that made a stand against the United States government.
Wyatt, E., & Miller, C. C. (2013, Dec 9). Tech giants issue calls for limits on government surveillance of users. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/technology/tech-giants-issue-call-for- limits-on-government-surveillance-of-users.html?_r=0
This article establishes the leverage that the billionaire founders from the tech companies have against the government and its political representative. An activist reveals that the national security agency has been able to have its surveillance programs up and running for so long only because it has been in collaboration with these organizations. He argues that since these internet moguls have so much leverage over the lawmakers, they should push for significant reforms to protect their customers. These companies released an open letter through major national newspapers presenting a plan to regulate the government surveillance programs that may soon get out of hand.
Roberts, P. C. (2013, June 12). The US government secretly, illegally, and unconstitutionally spies on it citizens: what is the agenda? Global Research. retrieved from: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-us-government-secretly- illegally-and-unconstitutionally-spies-on-its-citizens-what-is-the-governments- agenda/5338708
Over the past decade, whistleblowers have emerged in the United States outing the government on its surveillance operation to every citizen. It is now public knowledge that anyone who dares to speak the truth about the government infringing the rights of all its citizen is risking his life. For example, Edward Snowden would not trust any US based news source to release his information and had to take his story to the British newspaper, The Guardian. As a result, Roberts (2013, June 12) argues that the government has become an unstoppable monster that constantly violates the rights of the citizens because no one is holding it accountable. This includes the freedom of speech as well as our right to privacy.
Napolitano, A. P. (2013, Dec 12). A conspiracy so vast—it’s not just the NSA, now the FBI, your local police are also spying on US citizens. Fox News. Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/12/12/conspiracy-so-vast/
The government’s projects on surveillance continue to violate the fourth amendment that was put in place as the foundation of this free nation. The government would have to obtain a warrant issued by a judge authorizing government agents to search certain premises or have their personal belonging seized in order to operate lawfully. However, the United States can only offer warrants if there is probable cause of criminal behavior. Citizens also argue that since they know that they are under surveillance, free choices are reduced, and their normal behavior altered. As a result, the government will continue expanding it illegal activities since it knows it is not being watched.
Ravinsky, J. (2013, June 12). Snooping states: NSA not alone in spying on citizens. Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG.
This article sheds light showing that America is not the only government in the world spying on its citizens even though it employs the most aggressive methods. Other countries employ both traditional and modern means of surveillance to spy on its citizens. Canada, Britain, and India have all created legislation that allows them to spy illegally on their citizens. Ravinsky (2013, June 12) urges software developing companies to stop producing and selling the software to the governments that aid in these illegal activities.
Sources for government surveillance
Sullum, J. (2013). Obama's Flip-Flop on Spying. Reason, 45(5), 10.
Before the president Obama took office, he went on record saying that the kind of unaccountable surveillance power that the government of the United States had over its people was very wrong. However, years after getting into office, the president argues that the issue of surveillance is inevitable for the security of our country. This peer-reviewed journal examines the advantages and disadvantages of the US government surveillance over its citizens in through Obama. Though the president argues claims to welcome the surveillance debate, he thinks that this topic should be avoided. He argues that there is no way a country can have 100% of security as well as 100% of privacy. He also goes on record stating the once he got into power, suddenly the security of the nation took priority over civil rights. However, citizens should know that the senate, as well as the foreign intelligence surveillance court, monitors the surveillance activities.
Meyer, M. (2014). The patriot in-depth: placing local and global surveillance under the magnifying glass. Retrieved from: http://www.jcpatriot.com/top- stories/2014/03/03/the-patriot-in-depth-spying-surveillance-and-snowden-oh- my/
This article examines past surveillance scandals and tries to put them into perspective for the citizens to understand the thinking behind the government’s actions. First, Meyer (2014) clarifies on the scandal involving the national security agency (NSA) issuing a court order asking Verizon to submit all domestic and international phone records to the government. Under scrutiny, the information released was only metadata, which has information as who called at what time and the duration of the call lasted. However, the government did not listen to all the calls submitted by the telecommunications company. In addition, Meyer (2014) establishes that since the government started its surveillance program after the 9/11, people know that several terrorist attacks have been prevented, therefore, making this program beneficial to the whole society.
