Surveillance Technology How it Paves the Way to a Crime-free Society Essay Example

Surveillance Technology: How it Paves the Way to a Crime-free Society Essay In today’s world of convenience and speedy transactions, where identity it defined not by genes but by strings of zeros and ones, it would appear that privacy is a luxury only a hermit living in a cave can enjoy.These days, you can find out anything and everything at a click of a button. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed. The internet has made communication easier, opening channels that bring people closer to each other even without physical interaction. Emails, cellphones, instant messengers, VoIP communication is easy and cheap these days and so is spying on people’s conversations, and indirectly, people’s private lives.Occasionally, messages would pop-up on my instant messenger inviting me to try a service called â€Å"chat detectives.† They claim to be able to monitor people’s conversations over the internet, so people who are unsure of their spouse’s faithfulness can use their service to find whether their spouse is cheating o r not.I had also already been victimized by spam mail flooding my mailbox. But little did I know then that such events were consequences of surveillance systems that I had unknowingly enlisted myself into.It is the nature of human beings to be curious. It was curiosity that led us to this age of modernization. And I often wonder if curiosity, too, would lead to our downfall. After all, even with its nine lives, curiosity still killed the cat.Surveillance is but an expression of our curiosity. As defined by Wikipedia, it is the monitoring of behavior. The word â€Å"surveillance†, literally means â€Å"watching over† in French, and is now used to pertain to all forms of observation and monitoring, and not just visual observation. â€Å"Systems surveillance is the process of monitoring the behavior of people, objects or processes within systems for conformity to expected or desired norms in trusted systems for security or social control.† (Wikipedia)The public or common conception of surveillance is that it is â€Å"observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment,† such as eavesdropping, telephone tapping, directional microphones, covert listening devices, closed-circuit television, GPS tracking, electronic tagging, CCTV Images, and many others. (Wikipedia)Surveillance is actually a daily practice of human beings, albeit unconsciously. Even far flung communities that cannot be reached by modern technology practice the habit of observing each other’s lives. Neighbors spy on each other and spread unjustified rumors about each other. This is the most common form of surveillance, of which almost every human being is guilty of.Why do you think the â€Å"Big Brother† show is so popular? What is so entertaining about a show that records the daily activities of people living together in one house for a few months? It is because we are often intrigued by the events that happen in other people’s lives. When we find nothing of interest in our own lives, we turn to the lives of others for entertainment.Advantages of Surveillance Technology1. National SecuritySince the 9/11 terrorist attack on USA, the level of surveillance conducted by the government had increased. The national governments have the most powerful surveillance systems, because they are entitled to it by the law. They have access to a variety of information from various sources including private entities such as corporations that have data about their clients stored in their databases. They can immediately draw up profiles of persons or groups who they suspect are plotting acts of terrorism.The government believes it is necessary to perform surveillance on various entities suspected of planning or organizing terrorist acts. The government justifies that threats are everywhere and so preventive steps must be taken to counter organized acts of terrorism such as the attack on the twin towers. In this design, the government pre-em pts terrorist movements and acts accordingly before the citizens are placed in danger. (Wikipedia)2. Crime Preventionâ€Å"Besides fighting terrorism, digital security systems installed in public places, buses, or retail centers can deter crime, provide the police with leads, help citizens feel safer, and improve the economy of a crime-stricken area,† Alice Osborn writes in an article for the Video Surveillance Guide.Public Video Surveillance is the primary tool that most European countries nowadays use to monitor population movements and prevent terrorism. According to some research, the camera surveillance systems in the UK prevent crimes through panopticism. The citizens, aware that they are being monitored, are discouraged from committing crimes simply because the surveillance systems can easily identify them. (Nieto, 1997)â€Å"Public video surveillance in the UK began very unassumingly in 1986, on a single square mile industrial estate outside the English town of Kings Lynn. Three CCTV video surveillance cameras were used and their impact was immediate. In the years before the cameras were installed, there had been 58 crimes (mostly vandalism) recorded on the estate. In the two years following the installation, there were no crimes reported. Subsequently, cities and towns across Great Britain began using this crime prevention measure. By 1994, over 300 jurisdictions in the country had installed some form of public video surveillance,† Nieto writes.This is perhaps one of the reasons why UK enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the world.Through the psychology of the panopticon, surveillance technologies become a useful tool for crime prevention. Although they might not always be seen, people â€Å"think† that they will be seen, so they perform self-monitoring and the incidence of crimes are lowered.;3. Corporate Management and GovernanceEmployee monitoring and surveillance is a growing trend nowadays. Many companies and organization s now find this technology beneficial to their businesses. Companies employ surveillance technology as a means of protecting the company’s as well as the client’s interest. Some objectives for implementing surveillance measures include: maintenance of security and confidentiality of client records; protection against internal and external threats to the security and integrity of such records; and protection against unauthorized access or use of client records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the client. (Wakefield, 2004)Although such regulations bring up â€Å"trust† concerns, companies stress that â€Å"trust is not the issueclient information privacy and security are. Data security laws have effectively elevated the privacy and safety of client information above the privacy expectations of employees. Furthermore, legal experts advise that firms should remove all expectations of privacy in the workplace. They have to, or they risk being found noncompliant with security laws and exposed to other costly litigation. Legal compliance and liability are two of the top three reasons why managers are monitoring employees.† (Workplace Monitoring and Surveillance Report, 2001)Companies can employ two types of monitoring systems, network surveillance and email monitoring. In network surveillance, internet activity is logged and recorded. Some companies even go as far as installing invisible â€Å"keyloggers† that record the keystrokes made into a computer. Email monitoring software scans emails sent to and from the employees for keywords that would signal unacceptable or illegal messages. â€Å"In one recent incident, the New York Times relates that a sexual harassment suit at Chevron cost the company US $2.2 million when an employee sent coarse messages over the company e-mail system.† (Wakefield, 2004)â€Å"Workplace monitoring and surveillance is a sensible means to comply with federal data security statutes. It also provides additional liability protection for the firm. Monitoring promotes the personal protection of employees by reducing or eliminating instances of workplace harassment. Balancing monitoring and employee privacy is achievable with minimal stress when organizations inform employees of the purpose of monitoring activities, set privacy expectations and create reasonable monitoring policies. Firms that use electronic monitoring and surveillance to comply with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act may find that the added benefits (i.e., protecting organizational assets, preventing misuse of company resources and protecting the firm from legal liability) are worth it.† (Wakefield, 2004)Of course, there is a lot that a company has to gain from monitoring its employees, but whether such actions step on the boundaries of individual privacy rights is still a subject for further debate. The bottomline is, employees should know well enough that the information th at they come across in their work as well as the equipment that they use to access the internet and send emails are not their own, and so this fact gives their employer some right to monitor their actions.;4. Economic ExchangeNowadays, many companies lawfully trade information about clients or prospective clients. Many businesses have thrived on information coming from market surveillance. Companies buy information from agencies that collect data. These companies often use the data they acquired for marketing and advertising purposes. (Wikipedia)I often wonder why websites that need registration require so much information. They ask about individual’s personal information, interests, and lifestyle. People often give these information freely in exchange for the services the websites have to offer. The websites, in turn use the demographics they obtained to further broaden their business. Market trending becomes easier and new businesses and opportunities become easier to ident ify.;5. Parental monitoringToday’s technology allows for retrieval of information at a single click of a button. There are no restrictions as to what kind of information can be found on the internet. And these information are freely available to our children. Not all information on the internet is safe for our children. Our children might be exposed to inappropriate material such as can be found in porn sites.It is a sad fact, but the internet is not a safe place for children. Chat molesters are known to frequent chat areas and arrange meetings with unsuspecting children. (Magid, 2003)With surveillance software, parents can monitor the websites that their children visit as well as the people they connect with online. In this way, parents can ensure that their children do not stray into harm’s way.;6. New Trends – Inverse Surveillance TechnologyInverse surveillance stems from the idea that ordinary citizens can monitor the actions of other people, especially thos e in power. Inverse surveillance is â€Å"practice of reversalism on surveillance, e.g., citizens photographing police, shoppers photographing shopkeepers, and passengers photographing cab drivers who usually have surveillance cameras in their cabs.† (Wikipedia)This is also the mechanism behind the success of many environmental organizations in stopping activities that threaten the environment. One example is the Transport Canada Dash 8 pollution surveillance aircraft introduced late last year. The aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment that could better detect marine polluters. The new technology covers broader areas of observation even in challenging weather conditions. This technology is not only useful for detecting oil spills but can track those who should be held responsible for polluting the waters as well. Such technologies further strengthen Canada’s commitment to â€Å"protecting its marine wildlife and ocean environment.† (T ransport Canada; Government of Canada)Indeed, surveillance technology can be used to promote our social, cultural, and environmental responsibility.;Disadvantages of Surveillance Systems1. Extreme Government ControlThe main argument of antagonists to the use of surveillance systems is that these technologies blur the line that protects privacy. By allowing government systems access to our private information, we are granting them control over our lives and thereby relinquishing our right to privacy.â€Å"New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy,† laments the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).Surveillance technology is not fool-proof. There had been many cases of people being wrongly arrested because of mistaken identities or erroneous data from surveillance technologies.Technology is not the problem though, the EFF argues, â€Å"rather, the law has yet to catch up to our evolving expectations of an d need for privacy.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Privacy rights are enshrined in our Constitution for a reason — a thriving democracy requires respect for individuals autonomy as well as anonymous speech and association. These rights must be balanced against legitimate concerns like law enforcement, but checks must be put in place to prevent abuse of government powers.† (EFF)Again, this is a trust issue. Can we trust our government to not use the information they can obtain to gain absolute power? Can we trust our privacy and security to systems that covertly acquire information about us and store the data for government use?As dictated by the law, the government can acquire any information from any source in the name of national security. Even private corporations are obliged to provide their clients’ personal information to the government when required by the latter.Surveillance has two faces. â€Å"It can act to curtail rights through, for example, reinforcing divisions with in society, or it can be a vital tool in preventing and detecting crime. For citizens to accept and consent to certain forms of surveillance, that is to say its positive face, the state should be accountable for its actions. It cannot be left with an unfettered discretion to determine why and where it carries out surveillance on, and on behalf of, its citizens, without some form of legal responsibility. The governors and the governed should be subject to the law.† (Taylor, 2002)To prevent the abuse of power, we, as citizens of a free country, must remain vigilant. Power can be abused only if we allow it to be. There must be a check-and-balance mechanism in place that curtails the abuse of authority, especially in the usage of surveillance technology. The government is not the all-powerful and intimidating entity we perceive it to be. It too has its flaws and holes just like any organization. The government is still bound by the law that protects individual’s rights, and if an individual feels that his/her rights had been violated, there are various institutions ready to step in and provide assistance, institutions that are independent from the government’s control.2. Identity Theftâ€Å"Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. Criminals are using readily available personal information to steal billions of dollars, and make life miserable for hundreds of thousands of Americans. Its a crime that can be easy to commit, and very difficult to solve.† (Gunderson, 1999)Identity theft, in internet-based definition, is the assumption of another person’s financial identity by obtaining a person’s personal information such as name, address, date of birth, social security number, credit card number, and employer. (Hole, 2007)Nearly 10 million Americans were victims of identity fraud for the first 9 months of 2003 alone. (Hole, 2007)Identity theft is not a new thing. In the movie â€Å"Catch Me If Y ou Can†, a 19-yr old Frank Abagnale, Jr. devised an ingenious method of identity theft. He forged checks and assumed people’s identities for his personal exploits. The movie is loosely based on real events that transpired in the 1960s. Back then, methods for identity theft were limited, there were no complex gadgets and technologies to pinpoint the true identity of a person.Nowadays, cyber technology has made identity theft such an easy crime to commit. Information about us is readily available from various institutions and databases. There are â€Å"phishing† technologies that allow perpetrators to pose as legitimate websites asking for your personal information such as bank account and credit card numbers.Spyware can be installed in your PC, tracking your transactions in the internet and storing information that can be used to steal your identity.Identity theft is one of the top spreading crimes nowadays. Anybody can do it without even leaving their homes or hi ding places. This is one of the disadvantages of the information superhighway.Consumers must protect their personal information and make sure that they are giving it out to legitimate individuals or entities when they perform financial transactions online.The convenience that we enjoy from modern technology does not come without a price. We can buy merchandise online and save time and effort in not having to go to stores, but in exchange, we might get into bigger trouble if we transact with illegitimate websites.;3. Invasion of PrivacySex scandals abound the internet. Many of those seen in these videos did not even know that they are being filmed. Film stars are hounded by the paparazzi and their every action is recorded. These acts constitute invasion of privacy, and modern surveillance technologies such as high-end cameras serve to simplify and proliferate these invasions of privacy.Most people are unaware of the dangers of storing private information in their technological gadget s. PDAs and cellphones, for example, are used to store nude pictures and video recordings. If these gadgets get stolen, then the risk of public exposure becomes greater.The right information in the wrong hands can prove devastating to the owner of the information. Surveillance technologies make it harder for ordinary people to protect their right to privacy.But privacy, in itself, is a vague concept. There is even no definitive mention of it in the constitution, just mere allusions to the context.What is really lacking is accountability. The design and functions of new communication systems must be able to put up and protect itself from external or third-party manipulations leading to criminality.â€Å"The standard reaction to the problem of surveillance is to demand the protection of privacy. This article, however, argues that the conventional notion of privacy, based, as it is, on the separation of the individual from his/her environment, is no longer useful in the context of ubi quitous electronic communication. Rather than defending ever shrinking areas of privacy, we should refocus our efforts and demand accountability from those design and employ the new communication systems.† (Stalder, 2002);Do Surveillance Technology Work?Yes, I believe it does, but not always. Like all human inventions, surveillance technology cannot be 100% efficient. The technology is only as efficient as the people or organizations who wield it.Britain’s 4 million video cameras monitoring the streets may not have prevented the London bombings, but the derived footages did serve to bring the perpetrators to justice. (Yang, 2005)â€Å"Tomorrows surveillance technology may be considerably more effective. But each uptick in protection will typically come at the cost of more intrusion into the privacy of ordinary people. For now, the public seems to find that trade-off acceptable, so scientists around the world have intensified efforts to perfect the art of surveillance, hoping to catch villains before they strike.† (Yang, 2005)Safety does not necessary have to come at the cost of privacy but in today’s society, we must face the fact that not everyone can be trusted. Surveillance technology, in the hands of criminals, can be a dangerous tool, but when wielded by responsible hands, it can pave the way to a crime-free society.After all, surveillance technology is a double-edged sword. What can harm us can also be our redemption. All we have to do is be vigilant and smart about our actions and protect our valuable information as much as we can.As Howard Rheingold aptly puts it:â€Å"Were being watched. In an age of theft-control, targeted marketing, and ubiquitous anti-terrorism surveillance, theres precious little we can do to stop being observed wherever we go. But we can watch back. What will that do? Maybe we cant know until we try.†;

Rodeo Research Paper Topics For Students

Rodeo Research Paper Topics For StudentsRodeo research paper topics have always been on the mind of a rodeo student, but now that the cowboys are over their favorite pastime has become a little more challenging. Of course it is always exciting to sit in class and watch the cowboy rounding out each successful turn on his race. But in order to be truly successful you need to know what rodeo racing is all about.Understanding what makes a good rodeo rider means being familiar with all of the cowboy skills that make your ride special. While researching rodeo topics you should spend plenty of time finding the right information. Getting this knowledge means being prepared for the different scenarios that are sure to happen on the course.The most important thing to remember about rodeo is that you can't let anything distract you from the main event. A rodeo research paper topic can range from poor horsemanship and poor tactics to tragic accidents that have occurred during a rodeo event. Reme mber that one or two major incidents can spell the difference between an easy win and a difficult finish.The key to being a successful rider is making sure that you understand every aspect of the sport. You should always keep abreast of the latest changes in the sport and know which moves will help you improve your ability to perform well. The more you know about your craft the more you will be able to anticipate the actions of other riders and know how to play your game.Another important aspect of becoming a champion rider is knowing who is in your rider's competition. Knowing who your competition is before riding can help to keep you focused on your goal of winning the event. You should also be careful not to allow the possibility of a stallion to prevent you from achieving your goals.When studying rodeo research paper topics you should also make sure that you are giving your thoughts and your ideas some place to play and grow, and your rider's chances of winning will increase. Re member that the reason that you were told to be flexible was because you were told that you needed to be able to change your methods of doing things at the drop of a hat. For this reason you should never lose sight of what you learned from your teacher.You will be able to find different rodeo research paper topics all over the internet and even in books. Although it is important to learn everything there is to know about rodeo before entering a rodeo event you shouldn't limit yourself to just that information. There is always room for improvement, and you can always do more to better your performance.It is important to remember that it is your responsibility to search the web for different rodeo research paper topics. There are many sources available and it is never too late to be one of the best riders in the rodeo field. With proper preparation you can be one of the top contenders in any rodeo event and earn the title of 'the best'.

Research Topics on Alcoholism

Research Topics on AlcoholismWhen writing an argumentative essay for your research topics on alcoholism, the main factors to consider when looking at your article topics are the topic and the writer. Whether you are looking at writing an essay on alcoholism in relation to all of society or a specific demographic such as teenage boys, all writers will want to give their readers what they want, so the first thing you need to do is to choose a topic which suits you best.There are many different things that you can research on alcoholism including topics related to alcohol consumption, alcoholism in specific regions, how alcoholism affects the family and friends of alcoholics, treatments of alcoholics in the family or with the disease itself and so on. The types of alcohol consumed and the countries in which alcoholism exists are all part of the research, as is the number of children and adults that drink and die of alcoholism every year.If you have a background in journalism, you will f ind that the Internet has provided a great way to search for information and articles on a range of subjects. Many websites provide links to some of the most informative and trusted sources of information and articles and it is often possible to use these to produce a useful argumentative essay. The Internet is a rich source of research in relation to the topic of alcoholism, and therefore you will find that articles on alcoholism are often full of valuable information.Alcoholism is an extremely complicated disease and its effects on the mind and body are complex, but you will find that there are links between alcohol consumption and the research topics on alcoholism. It is difficult to analyse alcoholism in any clear cut ways and it is difficult to produce any kind of meaningful analysis without understanding the nature of addiction itself. However, once you understand addiction, then you can easily look at research topics on alcoholism and choose the right articles and research to ensure that you are able to convince your readers about your argument.What is interesting about alcoholism is that there are many reasons why someone may become addicted to alcohol and many different causes for alcoholism. You should therefore be able to provide evidence to support your arguments in your research topics on alcoholism and the topic of addiction.If you are a keen student of psychology, you will find that the research topics on alcoholism are also quite fascinating and many people find that writing an argumentative essay about the topic of alcoholism can be a little overwhelming. Therefore, you may want to consider using articles and research available online in order to make sure that you are able to present your arguments effectively. Of course, you will need to be careful not to use misinformation, in order to ensure that you are providing the most convincing arguments possible.The type of alcoholism that you are writing about will determine how you are able to ana lyse the topic of alcoholism in relation to your research topics on alcoholism. If you are writing about alcoholism and alcohol addiction, you should have a firm grasp of the underlying causes and understand the basic concepts of addiction.As mentioned above, the world of research topics on alcoholism is a very exciting one and there are a large number of facts and research available on this topic. However, as you look through the various websites and research articles, you will find that there are plenty of questions that you will need to ask yourself before beginning your research, in order to ensure that you have covered all the bases and fully researched your topic.

Brain Booster Essay Topics - How to Find Them

Brain Booster Essay Topics - How to Find ThemBrain Booster Essay Topics is a great way to get your brain going. Many people find themselves having difficulty in finding the right ways to pump up their brain. In fact, many people cannot find the time to do what is needed to improve their brain performance.Brain Booster Essay Topics gives you a different look at the way that you may have spent time learning. You will be able to find a lot of benefits from these. They can make a person better than they were previously and increase their potential by leaps and bounds.There are quite a few places where you can find Brain Booster Essay Topics. The best way is to use an online tool that is very effective at giving you the information that you need. It will make it easier for you to identify all of the things that you want to improve in order to improve your brain performance.Using this online tool is a simple process. You simply sign up for the free trial of this tool. Then, you will fill o ut a simple form where you tell the tool what you are looking for.It will allow you to have access to all of the ideas that you want to work on. You will also be able to get access to all of the techniques that will help you find a way to better your brain performance. You will have access to all of the methods that you can find that will allow you to do something about it.Once you are able to find all of the things that you want to improve in order to improve your brain performance, you can simply find the Brain Booster Essay Topics that will give you the best benefits. All of the topics that you find will be designed to help you boost your brain performance. You can use them with the knowledge that you have gathered from the online tool that you signed up for.Brain Booster Essay Topics will be designed to help you get all of the things that you need in order to be better than you were previously. If you want to gain more confidence in yourself, you will be able to use these techni ques in order to improve your mind performance. They will be a great resource for you to use.Brain Booster Essay Topics is great to use. They are free so there is nothing to lose by trying them out. There is no reason why you cannot find the skills that you need to be better at your job.

The Best Colleges In Ireland

The Best Colleges In IrelandTrinity College Dublin is one of the most famous universities in Ireland and it has a thriving university community. It has a remarkable reputation of providing educational excellence, research and economic development for its people. With its young students, it tries to help them make a successful transition from their high school days to higher education.Trinity College Dublin's papers offer a number of opportunities for the students to broaden their horizons and enhance their chances of achieving success in life. One of the best ways to do this is to attend the awards ceremony organized by the college.The articles published by the school contain some outstanding examples of investigative journalism, public service, which have brought into light issues which have given rise to much controversy, but has also placed at par with other award-winning journalists. This is where they come in handy for you to determine how good your journalism is. You can be sur e that your journal articles will enjoy the same kind of attention that your award-winning articles have enjoyed.Apart from the media which Trinity makes available to students, it also holds many events and competitions that attract students from all over the world to come and participate. All these events are intended to foster a sense of community, as well as professional development.In addition to this, Trinity College Dublin often holds awards ceremonies which the students can take part in to prove their competence. These activities give the students an idea about what they can expect to achieve in their college career. For instance, if you have been nominated for a student magazine article contest, you can expect to win the prize, which will help you further enhance your career prospects.The bible paper is one of the best journals, where you can have your writing exhibited. In fact, it is a well-known fact that there is no place in the world for plagiarism in writing. The bible paper journal is a great platform where students can showcase their writing, along with their interesting stories, which can surely capture the attention of others.Trinity College Dublin has established itself as a major center of academic excellence, in spite of the economic downturn that has been experienced in recent times. It also caters to the needs of students who cannot afford to travel long distances to attend college. One of the leading colleges in Ireland, it is an institution that we would like to recommend to our students.