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jthird

Government surveillance, does it work? - 9 views

started by jthird on 04 Jan 17
  • jthird
    #1 jthird on 04 Jan 17
     
    https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20151118/14242032858/whats-evidence-mass-surveillance-works-not-much.shtml

    With the threat of terrorism growing in the minds of people across the world, everyone would agree they want to feel safe, they want to feel that their government is doing something to work towards eliminating the threat of terrorism. However with growing government surveillance on civilians, it raises many moral questions of people's privacy as well as the question of how far does it go? Could we be eventually see a future similar to that of George Orwell's 1984? Furthermore is there a need for this much surveillance, does it work?

    this article explores the facts about government surveillance and it's effectiveness in eliminating terrorism.
  • epicfails
    #2 epicfails on 04 Jan 17
     
    While on the topic of George Orwell's 1984, I think it's a haunting glimpse (or prophetic vision) into a dystopian future where Big Brother rules, surveillance is omnipresent and mind-control regulates the masses in the form of doublethink and doublespeak via newspeak by the Ministry of Truth. There are so many current real-world comparisons that can be drawn for a novel published in 1949 making it somewhat eerie and disconcerting at the same time.

    Edward Snowden's revelations have alerted the general public to the government's capabilities where surveillance is concerned. I do not think it's premature to state we're currently living in a time reminiscent of Orwell's 1984; I'm just thankful we haven't encountered any thought police -- let alone the Ministry of Love.... yet.
  • katavent
    #3 katavent on 06 Jan 17
     
    I'm with Epicfail on this one man, I was gonna make a bunch of references and comparisons to George Orwell but he seems to have done it for me. That being said I feel like that's such an extreme idea that it's probably not entirely realistic. This article boarders the line between fact and paranoia (not neccessarily in a bad way) but I would love to read a counter article just to get a good look at both sides
  • ricearoni27
    #4 ricearoni27 on 06 Jan 17
     
    Much of the criticism to Rand Paul's stand against the Patriot Act was the idea that "government surveillance of it's citizens helps keep them safe." Yet the evidence says otherwise. Not only is government surveillance a blatant disregard of the fourth amendment (the right to privacy), requires an enormous amount of effort on the part of the government workers, tasked with checking up on it's citizens - but furthermore, it has only shown to be highly ineffective. There is little question that the excuse of safety is little more than a veil for further government overreach.
  • m_murray
    #5 m_murray on 07 Jan 17
     
    Well said @epicfails and @ricearoni27!
    Yes, George Orwell's '1984' novel was what first sprung to mind upon reading the article. As mentioned earlier, it is both ironic and alarming, the parallels that can be drawn between a book published over 60 years ago, and today's 'safety surveillance' as we know it. While there are those who would disrepute such claims - it seems hard to ignore.
    I agree, with the aforementioned 'right to privacy' - where is the line drawn?

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