U.S. Surveillance Affecting Civil Liberties

U.S. Surveillance Affecting Civil Liberties

Many Americans are being watched, in great detail, by the government. In its ongoing battle against crime and terrorism, the U.S. has ramped up its surveillance on individuals over the years. As in the book, 1984, by George Orwell, "Big Brother Is Watching You". Many people feel that this surveillance is a major invasion of privacy and a violation of their rights.

The USA PATRIOT Act was rushed through Congress 45 days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It stands for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism", and extremely broadens the authority of U.S. law enforcement to conduct investigations. Agencies can conduct a variety of data collections on an individual with almost no warrant. "If the government has any suspicion it can subpoena bank, phone, internet, and even library records with a National Security Letter, which doesn't need court approval."(Chu)

The National Security Agency, or NSA, is a top-secret agency believed to have the most advanced information vacuuming technology available, similar to the technology used to monitor people in 1984. "In the past, intercepting communications meant just that--copying a telegram mid-route, steaming open an envelope, or attaching alligator clips to the copper wires that connected every phone in the world."(Fordahl) These became extinct as we moved into the digital age; it is now easier than ever to access mass amounts of data. Many people fear that this is turning out to be a fast path to mass surveillance.

"You had to live--did live, from habit that became instinct--in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every moment scrutinized".(Orwell 5) Living in a democracy, most of us can not relate to this quote, but the NSA conducts countless warrant-less wiretaps and requires networks to be tap-friendly. They have collected detailed information from tens of millions of Americans. Much of this data was provided directly by AT&T, Verizon, and BellSouth, who are working under contract with the NSA. "For the customers of these companies, it means that the government has detailed records of calls they made--across town or across the country--to family members, co-workers, business contacts and others."(Cauley)

"She must have fallen right on the injured arm. Already he had instinctively started forward to help her... for in the two or three seconds he was helping her, the girl slipped something into his hand."(Orwell 115-116) Even Winston and Julia, two completely unsuspected people (at the time) must go through an elaborate incident just to exchange a message, for they were being watched. In the U.S. almost everyone who has detailed data collected from them are not suspected of any crime or wrongdoing. This is the major cause of the disapproval of the NSA and the PATRIOT Act, by most U.S. citizens. Many people feel that the government agencies misuse their power.

Some citizens question whether or not the government is legally allowed to do some of what they do regarding surveillance. Due to the PATRIOT Act, federal investigators can obtain a wide variety of information without formal court proceedings, which are normally required. "A congressional investigation revealed that the NSA had been illegally intercepting international