To ensure expressive, associational, and privacy rights are strengthened instead of being compromised by new technology is the goal of the Protecting Civil Liberties and protect the core democratic rights when corporate and government practices that rely on new technology that invades these rights. The government regularly tracks all calls of nearly every common American and spy on a large number of Americans’ international calls, text messages, and emails. Whistle blower Eric Snowden, a contractor with NSA, willfully and knowingly exposed the government’s most sensitive surveillance techniques without authorization and the most fundamental rights as individuals. The ACLU has been fighting for over 12 years to end government surveillance’s lack of oversight that allows it to invade the rights and lives of millions of Americans. When the case against mass surveillance reached the Supreme Court several years ago, was dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence of the secret programs. Leading the way, the ACLU’s struggle to rein in the surveillance superstructure which strikes at the core of our privacy rights, freedom of speech and association will continue. ("ACLU: National…
In 2001, people are quick to dismiss the idea of an internment of American citizens, suggesting that the country has come a long way from 1942. The hypothesis that the government might conduct surveillance or use illegal wiretaps to monitor groups or individuals that it suspects of domestic terrorism seemed foreign before September 11th, and now has become a way to gain more information about potential suspects. These new measures, included in the USA Patriot Act, delicately trace the line between national security and civil liberties. A brief look at how the Bush…
Thesis: Wiretapping enables both parties and government agencies to monitor the communications of targeted people to determine if they are doing something wrong. The Government should not have the luxury of imposing on the privacy of Americans without a reasonable doubt as to when they should get a warrant to be able to do so. The Government should not wiretap because it is an abuse of power, distrust, and ethical dilemma, the violation of the Fourth Amendment which involves the collecting and storing information about people who are not criminals to be penalized.…
I chose to focus my analysis on Edward Snowden and his disclosure of classified domestic surveillance documents. When the leak first came out, I was upset at the thought of my privacy being violated by the NSA. However, the feeling dissipated when I considered the protection making that sacrifice affords. The NSA, like many organizations, are sometimes faced with ethical dilemmas. Occasionally, there is no right answer. Thus, the decision made, while not ideal, is the lesser of evils. In his TED talk interview, Snowden stated, “Your rights matter because you never know when you're going to need them” (TED, 13:20). While I admit his statement did trigger the reexamination of my stance, I arrived at the same position. Perhaps, I will look back…
During the Boston Massacre, many of the colonists were upset with the British troops staying in the colonies monitoring the colonists("The Boston Massacre."). This is very similar to the NSA and how they have been monitoring communications between the US and other foreign entities. In both situations, citizens had lost the opportunity of freedom of some sort, as the troops in the American Revolution were stationed and eventually restricted and enforced laws on the people and the NSA could be considered as breaking the fourth amendment in monitoring these communications…
Some people believe, when the NSA spies on their own citizens illegally it creates an atmosphere of distrust between the government and its’ citizens; the NSA might believe by doing so, they are saving and preventing certain situations from taking place. Edward Snowden revealed the level of infiltration in his statement about NSA spying. Woodburn stated that "Seven months after the initial Snowden leaks, sixty-three percent of Americans stated that they were dissatisfied with the government's Surveillance of U.S. citizens" (28). U.S citizens disagree at times with their government's choices, and the National Security Agency infiltrating cell phone and computers makes this situation worse. Americans resent the government taking away their right to privacy in order to find terrorists. But, terrorists have found United States citizens, born in the USA, to help them commit terrorist acts and the NSA is wasting time and effort searching into American people while they are allowing real threats happen.…
citizens, and the government would have too much capability to go behind our backs, unnecessarily, and spy on us. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has freely admitted that it has not launched or found any extensive cases through the Patriot Act’s privileges. (Ybarra, n.d.) The question is, though, if they can not find any cases of terrorism, smuggling, or organized crimes what are they doing? The Government is spying on us through every piece of technology that we own. They can find us within the blink of an eye through our cell phones, computers, and bluetooth devices. They can hack into any of our Facebook accounts, emails, internet search browsers. They can view a person through their phone or computer's camera without them even knowing. The government can also turn on your microphones through the same devices and listen to you and what you are doing at any moment. The National Security Agency has put its codes into Android's operating systems, hacking into three quarters of the world's smartphones. (Tyler Durden, July 9th,…
“I believe the Patriot Act strikes the right balance needed to protect our freedom and security” (Bill Owens). This Act makes it easier for the government to identify terrorist. It strengthens our national security and lessens terrorism. It also allowed information to be shared between government officials. The Patriot Act is needed to identify terrorist, unite government officials and strengthen the national security of the United States of America. Public safety is much more important than our civil liberties.…
All the countries establish in its political constitution and in its legislation, the duty of the government to look over the life of its citizens, protecting them from the risk: the internal threats (inside the proper country) and external (outside the country) That is why, it is admitted, and it is even required, that the government possess a structure of intelligence that resists the action of dangerous forces, however lately, it has been found that in order to get information that may be useful to protect citizens , the government itself reach private information from all its citizens as well. That is why this essay aims to point out the risks this action (spying) implies for all and aims to answer thereupon,” Why government should not spy on us.”…
In 2005, government contractor, Edward J. Snowden, leaked classified documents to the public, revealing a classified government surveillance program headed by our own National Security Agency. This leakage confirmed that the NSA has stolen trillions of U.S. citizens’ emails, phone calls, and other information from both the Internet and our phones. It is understood that the collection and analysis of all information is part of the NSA’s mission to keep the United States safe, however, it’s troubling that our own government has to sneak around us. Regardless of whether or not U.S. citizens’ are committing illegal crimes, we should be concerned that the government and NSA steal our private information without our consent. As the government…
Domestic surveillance Have you ever felt like someone was watching you? The reality of the world we live in today is that people are watching us. There is a question standing: is the fact that the government is watching us constitutional or not? Is our privacy being infringed upon through the persistent prying fingers of those with higher authority? Many people have different views on this topic and there are many contributing factors to this issue.…
Today! ” the collection of Communication Information Data, Conducting and Investigation of Foreign Intelligence, Controlling of Money Laundering, Funding and Enhancing of National Border Security” (Doyle, 2002) have greatly concerned some groups like the American Civil Liberties, Citizens, and even the Private Sectors, because it might be intruding, and violation of the “American Peoples” constitutional rights. But even with these concerns and controversial issues, some say the country have been safe so far, because of the incertion of authority by the Patriot Act removing walls erected by President Clinton and allowing it to share information by the Homeland Security and Government Agencies and etc.…
Congress: No person thinks more of the security of our nation and the safety of its people than I do. The men and women of this powerful nation have protected it with their lives, and many have sacrificed their precious lives in order for us to have freedom. National security is important to the continuation of our freedom. But different people see the same subject in different light; therefore, I hope it won’t be thought disrespectful to propose an opinion that limits some of the hard-fought freedom. The character of the opinions are without reserve, and I will speak my sentiments freely. This is no time delay. The question before Congress is one at an awful moment in this country’s national security. I consider it nothing less than a question…
The concept of living in a surveillance society with no fear as long as individuals have nothing to hide sounds ideal; but even if people are not guilty of committing a crime, there are a number of reasons why loss of privacy should concern them. A significant concern is that the…
The United States of America is based on freedom and holds capabilities citizens would never have in any other country. Although this is the case, we Americans aware that there is a price for the freedom they were given? “There is no such thing as a free lunch” a saying repeated by many hard-working Americans. Little does the population know that this indeed relates to them as well? Much like any other country, Americans government has kept their civilization in the dark of their true colors. Evidence has surfaced as early as the 1920’s that the government has had surveillance of the population without their knowledge. Extending their surveillance, the government has now invaded on innocent’s…