PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE: HOW MONITORING AFFECTS OUR LIVES BY - SHAGUFA PARVEEN
PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE: HOW
MONITORING AFFECTS OUR LIVES
AUTHORED BY - SHAGUFA PARVEEN
Privacy and surveillance are two
ideas that are connected but frequently at odds with one another. On the one
hand, surveillance has the potential to be a useful instrument for enhancing
public safety, deterring crime, and safeguarding national security. The
employment of surv[1]eillance
technologies, however, can also result in invasions of personal privacy, a loss
of civil liberties, and abuses of power by those in positions of control. The
subject of privacy and surveillance is intricate and varied, covering social,
legal, ethical, and historical considerations. We will give a general review of
the subject in this post, outlining its history, advantages and disadvantages,
legal and regulatory environment, and ethical considerations.
I. Introduction
In order to obtain information,
maintain control, or identify and prevent crime, surveillance is described as
the act of monitoring, observing, or keeping a record of individuals, things,
or occurrences. From physical surveillance, like video cameras, to di[2]gital
surveillance, such tracking software and social media monitoring, there are
many different types of surveillance. Contrarily, the right to privacy is the
ability to govern one's personal information, to be free from unauthorised
access, and to lead an unhindered existence. The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Fourth Amendment of
the United States all recognise privacy as a fundamental human right. Privacy
is also protected by numerous other international and state legal systems.
Constitution.The conflict between surveillance and privacy stems from the
possibility of invasion of personal private via surveillance. Even though
surveillance has the potential to be an effective instrument for enhancing general
safety and security, it can also result in abuses of authority, discrimination,
and social control. It is crucial to have a thorough awareness of the
evolution, advantages and disadvantages, legal and regulatory framework, and
ethical issues of surveillance and privacy in order to strike a balance between
the benefits of monitoring and the protection of individual privacy rights.
II. The Development of Monitoring
The practise of surveillance dates
back to ancient times, when emperors and rulers employed spies and informants
to gather data and keep their citizens under control. However, the industrial
revolution and the emergence of contemporary nation-states are to blame for the
development of current monitoring systems. Governments started to develop new
monitoring techniques to uphold social order and deter crime as cities grew in
size, population grew, and commerce grew.
Modern surveillance methods came into
being as a result of new technology like photography, telegraphy, and the
telephone. Surveillance photographs were made possible by the development of
photography in the middle of the 19th century, and they were utilised by law
enforcement organisations to identify suspects and gather evidence. Telegraphy
and the telephone's quick information transfer over great distances made it
simpler for governments to monitor and regulate their territories.
The 20th century saw a revolution in
monitoring thanks to the emergence of new technologies like radio, television,
and computers. Governments were able to sway public opinion and uphold social
control through the employment of radio and television for propaganda and mass
communication.[3]
Governments and businesses have been able to gather and analyse enormous
amounts of data on individuals because to the advent of computers and the
internet, raising worries about privacy and civil liberties.There are many
different sorts of surveillance, including social, digital, and physical
monitoring.
Using cameras, sensors, and other
tangible equipment, physical surveillance keeps an eye on individuals, things,
or events. if or not the subjects are aware that they are being watched will
determine if physical surveillance is overt or covert. Cameras are an example
of physical surveillance.
III. The Benefits and Drawbacks of
Monitoring
Surveillance has advantages and
disadvantages. We will examine the advantages and disadvantages of monitoring
in this part, as well as how it affects society.
A. The Advantages of Monitoring
Enhanced Security: Enhanced security
is one of the key advantages of monitoring. Theft, vandalism, and assault are
just a few of the crimes that surveillance systems can aid in stopping and
catching. CCTV cameras put in public areas can serve as a deterrent to criminal
activity as well as a tool for law enforcement to identify individuals and
acquire evidence.Surveillance can also increase safety in public settings like
schools, offices, and other gathering places. In factories, for instance,
surveillance systems can help monitor employees and spot potential hazards,
while in schools, monitoring can help stop bullying and guarantee the safety of
students.
Public health: Monitoring and
tracking the spread of diseases like COVID-19 can also be done through surveillance.
Using monitoring data, public health professionals may spot outbreaks, track
the efficacy of immunisations, and take the appropriate precautions to stop the
disease's spread.
B. The Negative Effects of
Surveillance
Privacy Issues: Privacy issues are
one of the key problems of monitoring. When surveillance devices are used,
people may worry that their privacy is being violated because they may believe
that everything they do is being watched and recorded.False Sense of Security:
The false sense of security that surveillance may induce is another
disadvantage. While surveillance systems may deter some criminals, they can
also give people who think they are constantly being watched a false sense of
security.Abuse of Power: Those in positions of authority may misuse
surveillance technologies. Government authorities might, for instance, monitor
and intimidate members of particular social groups or political opponents using
surveillance technology. Similar to this, employers might spy on their workers
without getting their permission or knowledge.
C. The Social Effects of Surveillance
Society is significantly impacted by
surveillance in both positive and negative ways. On the plus side, surveillance
can boost public health, increase safety, and raise security. On the downside,
monitoring can lead to privacy issues, a false sense of security, and abuse by
those in positions of authority.It's critical to weigh the advantages and
disadvantages of surveillance. In order to protect people's privacy and civil
liberties, surveillance must be utilised properly and ethically, even though it
can be a useful tool for enhancing security and safety. Privacy rules and
regulations can aid in ensuring both the proper use of surveillance
technologies and the observance of people's rights.[4]
As we saw in the last section, there
are advantages and disadvantages to monitoring, and it's critical to establish
a balance between the two. Privacy rules and regulations are one approach to
guarantee that monitoring is utilised morally and responsibly.
A. Privacy Laws and Regulations
Overview
The purpose of privacy laws and
regulations is to safeguard people's civil liberties and privacy. They lay
forth regulations and standards for the gathering, use, and dissemination of
personal data, including data gleaned from surveillance.The principles of fair
information practises, which include the following, are the foundation of
privacy laws and regulations in many nations.Individuals must be made aware of
how their personal information is collected, used, and disclosed.Individuals
must give their consent before their personal information is collected, used,
or disclosed.Individuals are entitled to access their personal information and,
if necessary, ask that it be updated.
Security: It is important to guard against
unauthorised access, usage, and disclosure of personal data.
Accountability: Businesses that gather, use, and
divulge personal data must take responsibility for their actions.
B. Comparison of International Laws and
Regulations
The laws and rules governing privacy
are different in every nation. While some nations have comprehensive privacy
laws that offer stern protections for people's privacy, others have fewer
safeguards.For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which
is regarded as one of the most comprehensive privacy rules in the world, was
enacted by the European Union. The GDPR creates stringent guidelines for the
gathering, use, and disclosure of personal information and gives people powerful
rights, including the right to have their personal information erased and the
right to object to its processing.The privacy laws in the United States are
more dispersed, with several laws and regulations governing various sectors and
industries. For instance, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
protects children's personal information online while the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) offers privacy protections for
health information.
C. Analysis of Current Laws and
Regulations' Effectiveness
Despite the existence of privacy laws
and regulations, questions remain concerning how well these laws actually
safeguard people's private. Some critics contend that privacy rules are
insufficiently strong and do not adequately secure people's personal
information.For instance, certain privacy rules might not apply to government
surveillance or might have exceptions for purposes of law enforcement or
national security. Additionally, some businesses might not fully adhere to
privacy laws or might discover ways to do so.Some supporters have demanded
stricter privacy laws and rules, as well as more accountability, transparency,
and enforcement measures, to address these worries.In conclusion, privacy rules
and regulations are crucial for preserving people's civil liberties and privacy
in the face of surveillance. The principles of fair information practises give
a framework for ensuring that[5]
surveillance is utilised responsibly and ethically, despite the fact that laws
and regulations vary from nation to nation. To make sure that they continue to
be effective in defending people's privacy in the face of new surveillance
technologies and practises, privacy laws and regulations must be continually
evaluated and improved.
IV. Technology and Surveillance
In order to build and implement
surveillance systems, technology is essential. Technology advancements have
made it possible to use surveillance techniques that are more effective and
efficient, but they have also generated questions about privacy and civil
liberties. The function of technology in surveillance and its effects on
society will be discussed in this section.
A. Technology's involvement in
surveillance
The evolution of surveillance has
been significantly influenced by technology. Technology is heavily used in
modern surveillance techniques to capture and process data. For instance,
modern security cameras come with facial recognition software and
high-resolution lenses that can follow and identify people in real-time. The
ability to follow suspects and keep tabs on their whereabouts has also been
facilitated by GPS tracking technology for law enforcement organisations.
B. drones being used for surveillance
In particular, police enforcement
organisations are using drones more and more for monitoring. High-resolution
cameras and thermal imaging equipment can be added to drones to enable
information gathering from a distance. This technology can be helpful for
keeping an eye on large crowds or finding criminals in distant locations.
However, privacy issues have been brought up by the use of drones, particularly
when they are used to monitor people without their knowledge or consent.
C. Social media's effect on
surveillance
For surveillance organisations,
social media sites are now a rich source of data. Social media is used by many
people to publish personal information and details about their everyday life,
which can be used to create a profile of a person's interests, routines, and
whereabouts. It is possible to follow someone and keep an eye on their
activities using this information. However, privacy issues and the protection
of personal data have been brought up by the usage of social media for
monitoring reasons.
D. Ethics-related matters
A number of ethical questions are
raised by the use of technology in surveillance. The possibility for misuse of
surveillance technologies is one issue. Law enforcement authorities have, for
instance, employed facial recognition technology to identify protesters or
people taking part in peaceful protests in some situations. The potential for
prejudice is another issue. Darker skinned individuals are more difficult to
recognise using facial recognition technology, which could result in racial
profiling.The potential for technology to destroy privacy is another issue.
Without their knowledge or consent, surveillance cameras and other technologies
have the ability to gather enormous amounts of data about people. This
information can be used to track their whereabouts and activities, resulting in
a surveillance state where people have little freedom of movement or privacy.
To ensure that[6]
surveillance technology is utilised responsibly and ethically, there is a need
for strong privacy laws and regulations.
Overall, there are both advantages
and disadvantages to using technology for surveillance. Technology can make
surveillance more effective, but it also creates issues with privacy, civil
liberties, and the potential for abuse. As a result, it is essential to
carefully analyse the moral implications of surveillance technology and to
create strict laws that safeguard people's rights and liberties.
V. Security at Home and Monitoring
Governments and law enforcement
organisations use surveillance as a crucial instrument to preserve national
security. It is employed to stop terrorist acts, track down and capture
criminals, and safeguard the security of citizens. However, there are serious
questions regarding how to strike a balance between privacy and security raised
by the use of monitoring in national security.
A. surveillance and national
security: a link
With the use of surveillance,
governments can keep an eye out for prospective threats and avert attacks
before they happen, which is essential for maintaining national security. For
instance, intelligence agencies can utilise surveillance to monitor the actions
of terrorist groups and spot people who could be a danger to the country's
security.
B. How surveillance may be used to
stop terrorists
In several nations around the world,
surveillance has been crucial in stopping terrorist strikes. For instance,
monitoring in the US helped foil a number of terrorist plans, including the
attempt to bomb the New York City subway system in 2009 and the Times Square
vehicle bombing attempt in 2010.
C. Keeping privacy and security in
balance
The balance between security and
privacy is seriously questioned by the use of monitoring for national security
purposes. Although monitoring might deter terrorist acts and other crimes, it
can also violate people's right to privacy. There has been much discussion
about the conflict between these two goals in many nations, especially those
that place a high importance on individual privacy rights.Individual rights
might be violated and opposition can be repressed, according to privacy
activists. For instance, the Patriot Act, a U.S. law passed in the wake of the
9/11 terrorist attacks, increased government monitoring authority and caused
alarm over potential infringement of private rights. The law permitted the
government to gather information about American people without a court order
and perform warrantless wiretapping. Privacy advocates viewed this as an
infringement on people's rights and an invasion of their privacy.Governments
contend, however, that surveillance is necessary to safeguard populations and
preserve national security. According to them, monitoring is only employed when
a clear threat to national security exists and is vital to stop terrorist
attacks.
D. Monitoring and the COVID-19
Epidemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a
rise in the usage of surveillance technology to track and limit the virus's
spread. Governments all throughout the world have employed surveillance to
enact quarantine directives, monitor the travel of contaminated people, and
guarantee mask compliance.For instance, the Chinese government has employed
facial recognition technology to keep tabs on citizens and enact quarantine
regulations. The Singaporean government uses Bluetooth technology to follow
people who have tested positive for COVID-19 wherever they go.
Although these efforts have been
successful in stopping the virus's spread, they have also caused some people to
worry that their privacy rights may have been violated. Critics contend that
the deployment of surveillance technology to track people's activities during
the pandemic could create a risky precedent and result in future overreaching
government surveillance.
VI. Education and Monitoring
The monitoring of pupils' behaviour
and activities inside of schools is referred to as surveillance. To maintain
student safety and deter crime, schools employ a variety of surveillance
techniques, including video cameras, metal detectors, and drug testing. While
surveillance at schools can help reduce crime and increase safety, it also
raises issues with student privacy and civil liberties.
State and federal laws and
regulations govern how surveillance is used in schools. The Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
(COPPA) in the United States safeguard student privacy and control how student
data is used. According to these laws, schools must acquire parental permission
before collecting any personal information from them and give them access to
their children's records.The use of school surveillance has a number of
advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, surveillance in schools can aid
in deterring violence like bullying and harassment. Additionally, it can aid in
locating and assisting students who are battling drug use, mental health
issues, or other issues. Additionally, school surveillance can contribute to
ensuring students' safety and security while on school grounds.On the other
hand, student privacy and civil liberties may be violated by school
surveillance. It can result in a climate of distrust and constant observation,
where pupils believe they are being watched and evaluated based on their
actions. Furthermore, discrimination against students based on their race,
ethnicity, or other characteristics may be practised in schools through the use
of surveillance.
VII.Surveillance and Human Rights
Since surveillance can be used to
track and restrict the actions of people, groups, and society, it has a
substantial impact on human rights. Concerns about privacy violations, civil
liberties violations, and violations of human rights have been raised by the
use of surveillance technology by governments and other organisations. In this
chapter, we'll look at how surveillance affects human rights, the moral
ramifications of violating those rights when conducting surveillance, and the
significance of upholding those rights.
The use of surveillance technology
may significantly affect how communities and people exercise their human
rights. International human rights legislation protects the rights to privacy,
freedom of expression, and freedom of association, yet surveillance can erode
these rights.For instance, governments'use of surveillance to keep tabs on the
activities of journalists, human rights advocates, and political dissenters may
stifle free expression and association. The use of surveillance to harass and
intimidate those who disagree with the government or who identify as members of
minority groups is another possibility.Privacy rights are also threatened by
the gathering and storage of personal data by for-profit businesses and
governmental organisations. Data gathered in large quantities may be used to
create profiles that could be used to discriminate against people based on
their race, religion, political views, or other traits. Misuse of personal
information can also result in financial fraud, identity theft, and other types
of cybercrime.
Moore, A. D. (2000, July).
Employee Monitoring and Computer Technology: Evaluative Surveillance V.
Privacy. Business Ethics Quarterly, 10(3), 697–709. https://doi.org/10.2307/3857899
Hermida, A., &
Hernández-Santaolalla, V. (2020, January 7). Horizontal surveillance, mobile
communication and social networking sites. The lack of privacy in young
people’s daily lives. Communication & Society, 33(1), 139–152.
https://doi.org/10.15581/003.33.36450
[3] Diffie,
W., & Landau, S. (2009, September). Communications Surveillance: Privacy
and Security at Risk. Queue, 7(8), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1145/1613128.1613130
Froomkin, A. M. (2014).
Regulating Mass Surveillance as Privacy Pollution: Learning from Environmental
Impact Statements. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2400736
[4] Page,
A., Kocabas, O., Soyata, T., Aktas, M., & Couderc, J. P. (2014, December
16). Cloud-Based Privacy-Preserving Remote ECG Monitoring and Surveillance. Annals
of Noninvasive Electrocardiology, 20(4), 328–337.
https://doi.org/10.1111/anec.12204
[5] Agwi,
U. C., Irhebhude, M. E., & Ogwueleka, F. N. (2020, December 22). Video
surveillance in examination monitoring. Security and Privacy, 4(2).
https://doi.org/10.1002/spy2.144
[6] Shilton,
K. (2009, August). Four Billion Little Brothers? Privacy, mobile phones, and
ubiquitous data collection. Queue, 7(7), 40–47.
https://doi.org/10.1145/1594204.1597790