Most critics of surveillance argue about how it is an abuse of power, a violation of people 's privacy, and most importantly, unconstitutional, while proponents of surveillance claim the benefit of surveillance is a reduction in the probability of high-cost events such as terrorism. Government surveillance programs, when conducted in controlled situations and closely audited by independent organizations, do not directly harm innocent civilians, especially when they benefit the safety of the general public.
Surveillance, by definition, is the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime. If that definition was used when discussing the issue of government surveillance, most public safety activities, …show more content…
Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which prohibits the unauthorized interception of communications by government agencies and private parties, established procedures for obtaining warrants to authorize wiretapping by government officials, and regulates the use of authorized intercepted communications by investigative and law enforcement officers. (DHS/Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and DHS/Privacy …show more content…
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which updated the Federal Wiretap Act of 1968, expanded it to include provisions for interception of computer and other electronic communications. (DHS/Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and DHS/Privacy Office)
3. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, enacted in 1978, a very effective method for monitoring the activities of foreign powers and agents of said powers while they operate within the United States. It was augmented even more with the enactment of the PATRIOT Act, which enhanced the federal government’s capacity to share intelligence, strengthened criminal laws against terrorism, removed obstacles to investigating terrorism, and updated the law to reflect new technology. (James G. McAdams)
Whereas constitutionality of government surveillance is questionable, these laws, along with the countless other sections and statutes in and related to the PATRIOT Act, permit government agencies, under scrutiny, of course, to conduct surveillance to protect our country from terrorist threats and
Surveillance, by definition, is the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime. If that definition was used when discussing the issue of government surveillance, most public safety activities, …show more content…
Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which prohibits the unauthorized interception of communications by government agencies and private parties, established procedures for obtaining warrants to authorize wiretapping by government officials, and regulates the use of authorized intercepted communications by investigative and law enforcement officers. (DHS/Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and DHS/Privacy …show more content…
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which updated the Federal Wiretap Act of 1968, expanded it to include provisions for interception of computer and other electronic communications. (DHS/Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and DHS/Privacy Office)
3. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, enacted in 1978, a very effective method for monitoring the activities of foreign powers and agents of said powers while they operate within the United States. It was augmented even more with the enactment of the PATRIOT Act, which enhanced the federal government’s capacity to share intelligence, strengthened criminal laws against terrorism, removed obstacles to investigating terrorism, and updated the law to reflect new technology. (James G. McAdams)
Whereas constitutionality of government surveillance is questionable, these laws, along with the countless other sections and statutes in and related to the PATRIOT Act, permit government agencies, under scrutiny, of course, to conduct surveillance to protect our country from terrorist threats and