Should Surveillance Technology Be Banned?
Surveillance technology such as RFID (radio-frequency identification) should not be used to track people (e.g. human implants and RFID tags on people or products).
Do you agree? Support your argument with concrete examples.
Famous novelist George Orwell once wrote in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, “There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment…In the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.” (George Orwell 's, 1984 - telescreen and the surveillance society) Although the issue on surveillance technology invading human’s privacy has been an ongoing concern, surveillance technology has also brought us lots of benefits and security. Firstly, it enhanced the security system in many areas. Secondly, it facilitates the tracking of school children and the elderly. Lastly, with the help of surveillance technology, information can be accessed instantly. Hence, surveillance technology should be used to track people.
Video Surveillance such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is highly employed in many key installations such as government institutes, military bases, airports and ports to enhance security. It can also be found in schools and hospitals. CCTV is able to provide a 24/7 security manning without too much human resources as real time video images will be sent to the control centre. For instance, schools can use it to track intruders and protect their students from possible dangers, especially in pre-schools, (Security and surveillance, n.d.). Besides that, such surveillance technology can act as a form of deterrent and used for forensics purposes. Law enforcers are able to collect evidences after an event has occurred, thus increasing the efficiency of crime solving. With the presence of the video surveillance, potential crime can be deterred. The use of such surveillance technology to fight against crime is seen in Malaysia, where Malaysian police
Do you agree? Support your argument with concrete examples.
Famous novelist George Orwell once wrote in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, “There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment…In the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.” (George Orwell 's, 1984 - telescreen and the surveillance society) Although the issue on surveillance technology invading human’s privacy has been an ongoing concern, surveillance technology has also brought us lots of benefits and security. Firstly, it enhanced the security system in many areas. Secondly, it facilitates the tracking of school children and the elderly. Lastly, with the help of surveillance technology, information can be accessed instantly. Hence, surveillance technology should be used to track people.
Video Surveillance such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is highly employed in many key installations such as government institutes, military bases, airports and ports to enhance security. It can also be found in schools and hospitals. CCTV is able to provide a 24/7 security manning without too much human resources as real time video images will be sent to the control centre. For instance, schools can use it to track intruders and protect their students from possible dangers, especially in pre-schools, (Security and surveillance, n.d.). Besides that, such surveillance technology can act as a form of deterrent and used for forensics purposes. Law enforcers are able to collect evidences after an event has occurred, thus increasing the efficiency of crime solving. With the presence of the video surveillance, potential crime can be deterred. The use of such surveillance technology to fight against crime is seen in Malaysia, where Malaysian police
References: Buckley, C. (2007, July 9) New York Plans Surveillance Veil for Downtown George Orwell 's (n.d). 1984 - telescreen and the surveillance society. Retrieved October 6, 2009 from http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/1984.htm Ministry of Health, Singapore Queensland Governent (n.d.). Work, family and lifestyle. Retrieved October 6, 2009 from http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/industrial/family/overview/statistics/index.htm Remote parenting and DVR surveillance (n.d) Security and surveillance (n.d). Retrieved October 6, 2009 from http://www.proxim.com/solutions/security/ Securing the Elderly Body: Dementia, Surveillance, and the Politics of “Aging in Place”