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Stephanie Arciga
Professor Khadka
English 113B
February 25, 2016
Justice for all privacy for none
With the use of internet and technology changing day by day there are so many different ways
to browse through the web. In todays society we are also able to use cellphones, cameras,
television, and much more sources of technology in ways that may benefit us. Although, as these
sources can be an advantage with the increase of internet and technology use, these benefits can
also become disadvantages. Media can be used for useful learning experiences, but they can also
put peoples safety at risk. Not only can peoples identity be stolen through internet and
technology, but forms of harassment, fraud, illegal gambling, or hacking can now affect us. With
technology evolving, our privacy is becoming less important. Technology and internet have not
only effected societys expectations, but also affected cybercrimes. Today everything put online
can be tracked, which can be beneficial or to ones disadvantage. Technology is also being
misused to harm our country which is why the government tries to maintain a safe and civilized
society. These factors are what cause our government to constantly watch our everyday lives. Is
it fair that the government treats everyone as a suspect? Should everyones use of technology,
social media and internet be monitored, and should everyone be monitored equally? What is
more important to be safe or to be protected? Our privacy is important, but our countries safety is
as equally important. To some extent the government should be able to follow, and track our
daily internet and technology use.

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The government should only be allowed to monitor those who are suspected of a harm or crime.
It is unfair that past experiences effect innocent people. In past experiences after any crime
reported, actions are taken against it. For example, in the La Times Be Internet firefighters,
the article explains how after a rare video appearance on the media, National Security Agency
had more secret government look into these types of issue. Similar to this article the government
is always expecting the worse from us and are in constantly invading the privacy of innocent
people. Unfairly the actions of others are affecting everyone to be treated as a suspect. In most
case individuals have no clue and can be invaded for others mistakes. Why should innocent
people have to worry about protecting their privacy? Many can argue that our rights are to have
protection against unlawful surveillance, and right to liberty and freedom. In U.S history.org the
fourteen and fourth amendments both state our rights to be free from searches and have a right to
private home, so why should everyone be followed or be under surveillance if we all have a right
to have privacy. Other individuals who have nothing to do with the governments concern are
also affected by not being allowed to browse the web or use technology freely without being
watched. It is disturbing to know someone is constantly after our information, and nobody likes
to be tracked. Each individual consist of a public and a private life, and they are both important.
Although, the same way innocent people worry about having privacy they worry about being
safe from criminals on the internet and technology use.
In contrast, as well as being monitored by government, it is disturbing to know these criminals
can affect innocent people through the use of internet and technology. What is more disturbing,
to be watched by the government or to have our identity stolen, our computers hacked, accused
of fraud or being gambled? We shouldnt have to worry about these criminals, and with the
improvement of internet and technology these criminals are having more and more sources,

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which is why the government tries to put a stop to this. Through interviewing ten classmates of
both genders, and multiple ethnicities my finding were that more than 50% of people prefer a
right to privacy over security. These individuals fail to understand that, when the government is
watching our daily lives through internet, they only want to protect us. It is beneficial to have the
government protect our country from others we might not be able to protect ourselves from.
Some might argue that without the governments surveillance our generation and our crimes
would be worst. We should be protected by the government because in many cases we cannot
take actions ourselves. The governments surveillance does make a change. For example,
canceling schools when bomb threats or finding hackers, as well as catching on line gamblers.
The government uses surveillance because of security concerns and with no intentions to harm
innocent people. The government wants to ensure we are living in a safe environment. Instead of
complaining people should appreciate the governments surveillance, because it has helped
prevent dangers that people are facing in their daily lives of technology use. We should think of
those incidents when we wish to press rewind and go to authorities for surveillance as proof to
catch the criminals against us. Overall surveillance does benefit us all although, the government
should not have too much power over our privacy.
Furthermore, surveillance is good but so is having our own privacy. There is a fine line between
both, and both privacy and security should have limits. We should not have neither too much
privacy nor too much security. Too much of either can be bad. If we have too much privacy with
the evolving of technology and internet, our society would be troubled with more issues. Too
much privacy would allow criminals on the internet to be free to hide and keep doing their
crimes. In addition, too much surveillance and security can discomfort people, and often invade
personal rights. We need both security and privacy equally. Privacy and security both are equally

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effected by our society and the development of technology along with internet. In understanding
the balance between privacy and security, the website explains that the government believes
sacrificing some civil liberties is necessary to protect against the terrorist threats. Therefore the
government acknowledges of invading civil liberties, only for the good of others. This does not
justify the government although it does show a point.
In conclusion, the development of technology and internet effects our use of it. With technology
constantly changing new crimes are to be aware of. In this generation we have to worry about
computers and devices not only being able to solve problems, but to cause them. With the
changing in technology we cannot predict how much more this issue will change. Each
individual is allowed to want privacy, and want to live a peaceful and safe society. The
government should only be able to watch our everyday lives under certain circumstances.
Overall we can all have our own opinion about the governments surveillance and not much will
be affected. Only those who are suspects are who should be watched on a daily basis. Not
everyone should be treated as a suspect. With the internet and technology growth affecting our
society, we should intent to only let us affect us in a positive way. We can control our internet
and technology, the government will control the rest, and as Margaret Cho said Privacy and
security are those things you give up when you show the world what makes you extraordinary,
so we shall all show the world and worry less about these concerns.

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Works Cited Page

Caloyannides, M. "Privacy Vs. Information Technology." IEEE Security & Privacy Magazine, 99.1 (2003):
100-103.

Head, Tom. Big brother is watching; a history of government surveillance programs. about
news.2016. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/waronterror/tp/Surveillance-History.htm
"Identity Inference as a Privacy Risk in Computer-Mediated Communication." 2009 42nd Hawaii
International Conference on System Sciences, (2009): 1-10.

Soma, John T., et al. "Balance of privacy vs. security: a historical perspective of the USA
PATRIOT Act." Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal Winter 2005: 285+. General
OneFile. Web. 24 Feb. 2016
Volokh, Eugene. The Responsive Community, Fall 2002.
http://www2.law.ucla.edu/volokh/camerascomm.htm