The cases of illegal surveillance in university communities and by the government show the seriousness of privacy breaches and invasion of privacy. The proliferation of CCTV has been introduced in the name of crime prevention, but it can be a violation of personal freedom. We need to be vigilant about the need for privacy and the transformation into a surveillance society.
The atmosphere in the online community of a university is currently unpleasant. There have been several incidents where the administrators of a webpage have been able to access the identifying information of people who post anonymously online and learn the identity of the person who wrote the post. The cordial atmosphere of mutual anonymity, where people could share their worries and unspeakable stories, quickly cooled. The nearly 100,000 members of the university community were outraged by the situation and immediately demanded an apology from the administration and a solution.
The problem is that these privacy breaches are no longer limited to specific communities. In recent years, similar incidents have occurred on a variety of online platforms, and we’ve come to realize how important privacy is. We live in an age where the internet allows us to easily exchange information and communicate, but behind the scenes, there is a lot of information that can be leaked without our knowledge. In the end, we realize that even in a community built on trust, we need a solid system to protect our privacy.
There is another, more serious case. Recently, news of illegal government surveillance of civilians has been reported by various media outlets. There are now more than just allegations, there is a lot of circumstantial evidence, and victims’ statements are coming out all over the place. Instead of providing a clear explanation or apology, the government has been playing dumb. The public is horrified by the incident and outraged by the violation of their personal freedoms, which they have sacrificed so much to fight against the dictatorship.
Government surveillance has been a controversial issue since the days of past dictatorships, when technology was not as advanced as it is today, and many people’s communications were monitored in an attempt to control certain individuals or groups. Even now, some people live in fear that their daily lives are being monitored. Surveillance and control can limit people’s ability to think and act freely and can lead to the oppression of entire societies. Under such oppression, the fundamental principles of democracy – freedom of expression and privacy – are at risk of collapsing.
The two incidents above share a common denominator: the leakage of personal information. At the smallest level, it’s about someone who has access to information about your identity and uses it for private purposes, and at the largest level, it’s about controlling your behavior through that information. The idea of an individual being monitored by someone else may seem out of place in this day and age, but if you look closely, you can easily find similar controls that are not visible on the surface.
One of the most prominent examples of this is closed circuit television (CCTV). CCTV was introduced to prevent crimes, respond quickly to crimes when they do occur, and capture compelling evidence. Nowadays, with the rise of vicious crimes, people have come to rely on CCTV to ensure their safety and enhance security. Local governments are rushing to enact and implement laws to increase the number and area of CCTV installations. But will these moves bring us anything but good results?
The increase in the number and scope of CCTV installations can seriously infringe on individual privacy. Technological advances have made it possible for CCTV to be hidden from view rather than installed externally, and have improved image quality, blind spots, and other features. While these technological advances are positive, it’s important to remember that they also have the potential to be abused. Hidden cameras are now more numerous and more powerful than ever before, and people are restricted in their freedom for fear of being seen.
Invasion of privacy isn’t just about prying into your personal space, it’s about having your every move, where you go, what you do, monitored and recorded. This information is usually used to prevent crime, but it can be misused at any time. The movie Minority Report is a great example of what society would look like if CCTV was taken to the extreme. In a futuristic world, CCTV cameras record people’s pupils on every street and building. What started out as a crime deterrent has morphed into a tool to monitor and control people.
Furthermore, we should be wary that this surveillance technology, although introduced in the name of crime prevention, may ultimately become a means of social oppression and curbing individual freedom. The constitutions of every country guarantee the right to privacy and freedom from interference. So where do we start to fix the problem? First, governments and organizations need to put in place stronger legal mechanisms to protect privacy. This isn’t just about formal regulation, it’s about providing an environment that actually makes citizens feel safe. Second, we as individuals need to be vigilant about protecting our own information. While technological advancements make our lives easier, we need to be careful not to overlook the possible side effects.
Installing more CCTV doesn’t guarantee a reduction in crime. The UK, one of the biggest proponents of CCTV, has installed so many cameras that the average citizen is exposed to one every 30 seconds, but the reduction in crime has been less than expected. Even if CCTV does reduce crime, it’s not practical to install it in every neighborhood in the country. It’s possible that only the areas with CCTV will see a decrease in crime, while the areas without CCTV will see an increase in crime. This would create a policing gap between well-funded and under-funded areas, which would have even more negative effects if the crime rate gap widened.
Finally, expanding CCTV installations can lead to more sophisticated criminals. CCTV cannot identify people who are disguised with bad intentions. This allows for more sophisticated crimes to be committed, and criminals can use more sophisticated tactics to evade CCTV. As you can see, it’s dangerous to think that simply installing more CCTV will make us safer. We need more fundamental measures to address this issue, and we need a social consensus that prioritizes individual freedoms and rights.
In conclusion, I am against the expansion of CCTV installations and believe that a cautious approach is necessary for a freer and safer society.
