Anti-Surveillance | surveillance

Dominant Culture: Anti-Surveillance

Many people see surveillance as a threat rather than a form of protection. It is due to this viewpoint that whistleblowers, such as Edward Snowden, made this information about NSA practices public. People on this side of the spectrum present a number of arguements that can controdict or challenge the goals of the NSA.

"We are building the biggest weapon for oppression in the history of mankind."

-Edward Snowden, Citizenfour

Across the world, people have differing opinions of NSA surveillance in America. For the most part, the majority believe it to be unacceptable, but there is also a variance in opinion when it comes down to who is being monitored. While many people recognize that terrorist suspects should be surveilled, not as many believe that the average citizen should receive that same treatment.

The Opposing Arguments

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Surveillance opposes the Fourth Amendment, which involves privacy of the people. Online practices are no longer personal. Sensitive data can now become public.

There is the threat of hackers, spammers or other groups gaining this information and using it for malicious intentions

There is now an additional threat to the freedom of press. The NSA could prohibit reporters to write about certain things since they have access.

The process of finding a terrorist by looking through all the American internet history can be compared to finding a needle in a haystack. Thus far, this method of protection has not been proven successful.

Effects on Browsing

The new awareness of the American people regarding NSA practices has changed the way people use their phones and computers. People are becoming more conscious of what they say or do digitally now that they know that they are being watched.