The Government That Never Stops Watching

Many Americans fear that the extensive use of video surveillance is taking away their civil liberties, and right to privacy. Surveillance cameras are on every corner, in every building, and even built into cell phones. Video cameras were first used for surveillance purposes in the U.S. during the late 1960s and early 1970s as a crime-prevention tactic. The cameras were not as successful as camera operators had hoped because of poorly lit areas and bad camera quality, so they were not helpful in stopping crime. In the 1980s and 1990s technology improved and there was a dramatic increase in the use of video surveillance equipment (“Growing use of Surveillance Cameras”). Some of the largest concerns with surveillance systems are that they haven’t been accurately proven to be effective, they invade privacy, and they are not worth the money the government spends on them. Government intrusion into the daily lives of Americans is extremely wrong and should not go unnoticed.

Video surveillance cameras are becoming a widespread feature in the American society, but haven’t been proven to be very effective. It is hoped that surveillance cameras would make people feel safer, but in some cases it has a reverse effect. Some storeowners are reluctant to advertise their surveillance cameras because they don’t want their consumers to be fearful, giving the cameras very little effectiveness (“Center for Problem”). Suicide attackers are not deterred by video cameras-and may even be attracted to the publicity they receive with the footage. Surveillance cameras are typically in a place set to catch much more petty crimes such as graffiti or burglary, but the impact of the cameras cannot be accurately determined. These kinds of crimes are hard to be c...

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...that it isn’t making a significant difference is absurd.

Unfortunately, history has shown that surveillance systems were put in place for one purpose, and expanded into other uses. Many Americans nowadays don’t understand that every move they make is being monitored, and the government doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Video technology is likely to continue advancing, posing a significant danger in the future. Authorities should not have the right to implement cameras that can see what you’re reading from a mile away, or hear what you’re saying outside of the visible spectrum. The use of surveillance cameras and the money being spent on them is unnecessary and should be stopped. Nobody should feel like they don’t have privacy, especially in their own home. At the end of the day, we are a nation of laws and rights, and we should not have our rights taken away.