Surveillance and Information Gathering:the Role of the Nation State, Military and Citizenry

Within any society, information gathering and surveillance mechanisms exist. The sophistication of this information gathering varies, but at all levels; the information gathered can be received voluntarily or involuntarily. The collection of information, whether it is surveillance received at a traffic road crossing, or satellite images from outer space, occurs every day. Everyday life is subject to monitoring, checking and scrutinizing. To find a place or an activity, which is shielded from some kind of surveillance device is difficult. The ability for governments to have such surveillance capabilities is due to the growth of computer application areas and technical enhancement that are central to surveillance. The ability of nation states to guarantee civil, political, economic, and human rights is made possible only through systematic surveillance of and data-collection about their citizens. The ability of a nation to defend its borders, against aggression depends on the ability of the military to prepare for such incidents, and be capable to react. The level of surveillance and information gathering that exists continues to be discussed by scholars. There are many perspectives when discussing surveillance in nation states, each discussing an individual aspect of surveillance, and its significance. Three such perspectives include, the role of the nation state, the military and the citizenry, and how each play a role in this debate.

In Frank Webster's book Theories of the Information Society he discusses the growth of surveillance and organization in modern times. Within his discussion, Webster makes reference to works of Anthony Giddens. Webster uses Gidden's explanation of the nation state, to begin his discu...

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