Surveillance

I think surveillance is right for society because it can stop and reduce crime. Surveillance really helps detect and deter theft. Even in stores it is useful to record the movements of customers to improve their sales. For security purposes it is also a great tool for stopping people from trying to terrorize the country and enforce the law. It can convict suspected murders. I find that its a useful piece of technology that can track down people and events almost anywhere in the world. Although it does intrude with a person's civil rights, it can be a privacy issue. But the surveillance tracks people to make sure they are doing what they should be doing (like in their jobs.) The only thing wrong about it is if the information of your location gets in the wrong hands. People could find you and take advantage of you. It kind of reminds me of the movie called Eagle Eye where these people were called by this intelligent computer that wanted to overturn the government. They were forced to go on these missions and kill people, steal things, etc. or else they would get killed. Its creepy to know that they can be controlled like that. The advancement of surveillance technology is scary in some ways because of the power that people can have to steal your personal information for destructive purposes. Identity theft is a huge concern about the use of surveillance devices.

I feel that it can be a civil liberty infringement. It is hard to believe that this technology exists almost everywhere - through our own cell phones, printers, etc. I find it scary to know that several companies could gain access to my personal information, my movements, my history, etc. Our society is such a paranoid society and having this kind of technology builds more security to the nation, however it still adds paranoia about these devices tracking people down. I feel paranoid sometimes about other people having knowledge about my whereabouts, and the possibility of taking that knowledge to use against me. Usually I don't have a problem in places like stores because I understand that they use it for security. But having my information tracked on the computer and things like that, kind of makes me feel eery. I would not want my credit information to be stolen. It violates my right to privacy.

The use of surveillance is even extending out to the art world. I find it really entertaining that it can be used to make things like GPS drawings. Its like watching a live performance movie of people which is quite entertaining.