The world of surveillance technology is an expansive one. Of course one can’t hear the word surveillance without thinking of Orwell’s masterpiece 1984. After doing all this research and blog posting I have come to feel that surveillance technology is a double-edged sword. One side protects, while the other side has a tendency to incite fear and be abused.
With the creation of surveillance networks like the ones established in the Peoples Republic of China, or in the city of Chicago provide safety and also insecurity. The fear of a “big brother” type of situation with the government always seeming to be breathing down you neck and oppressing you is well founded. The monitoring of streets for crime, accidents, fires, etc… can help in keeping the majority of citizens safer. With the government already monitoring our calls, texts, and emails we can’t really expect to not be watched. This is the price of our information age, privacy is one thing that the government has deemed necessary to sacrifice in order to help maintain order. Is this good or bad? Only time will tell.
The use of UAV technology is also a dual edged sword. On the one hand they can be used to eliminate suspected hostile targets, maintain surveillance on suspicious areas, and do so without losing lives. UAVs can also monitor forest fires, do experiments for NASA and secure/patrol our borders. However they also can harm civilians, make neighboring nations uncomfortable, and further add to the fears of a 1984 type world.
All things considered surveillance technology has great potential for good, and for abuse. The ultimate decision lies in the hands of those who control both the development, and application of this form of technology in our modern society. Hopefully we have placed our trust in the right hands and surveillance technology won’t grow into an uncontrollable monster which towers over us in our everyday lives.
