The power of surveillance
“Will the new technologies make our countries safer?”
Most people would agree that cutting-edge technologies bring a number of advantages for the modern society. But some people think that there are some drawbacks of the advanced development as many people do not realize that they are being constantly monitored. Although the existence of modern devices such as surveillance video systems or CCTV cameras has some downsides, I do believe that it has more benefits for our communities. This essay will examine both sides of the issue.
On the one hand, the usage of technological tools has increased in recent times. Many countries use these different instruments to monitor population movements and to prevent crime and terrorism. So the authorities place cameras everywhere and track individuals’ cellphones using satellite technologies. These acts are unfavorable for some people since authorities do not inform their residents about the activities and it makes people feel insecure and leads to some issues related to personal privacy. The installation of public surveillance devices is an invasion of privacy since they can observe everything around the clock. When you are walking down the street, driving in your car, or hanging out with your friends, you can be monitored and this creates a complete picture of your private life, which you do not want others even the government to know.
On the other hand, the existence of closed-circuit television in public places and satellite tracking of mobile phones would bring many advantages for the humankind if they are used appropriately. For instance, it would help the police in preventing and investigating any crime activities. And then, with the sophisticated satellite tracking technology, it could help authorities in tracing crime persons, as they could search the existence of criminals through the signal of mobile phones. Moreover, shoplifting is also often either averted or the shoplifter gets caught from the CCTV tapes. Crimes can be deterred even before they begin in some cases. If a suspicious individual or dangerous item are seen in an area, the appropriate authorities can be contacted to manage the situation before any damage is done as a precautionary measure. The police can both prevent crimes from happening and can quickly solve criminal cases with material evidence. It has been proven that with the usage of these digital monitoring technologies, it has reduced the number of crimes in many countries. It is worth mentioning that integration of AI is becoming more prevalent, as cameras can accurately gather information and make predictions based on analytical software. This can be used to automatically analyse unfolding situations, potentially enhancing public safety.
The shift to a ‘smart home’ environment is also playing its role, as people have easier access than ever to easy-to-install wireless devices and doorbell cameras. The true comfort derived from knowing their relatives and property are safe from threats such as burglars and vandals or fire - is invaluable.
In conclusion, I believe the advantages of this development do outweigh the disadvantages. Even though there is a negative impact on people lives that is being monitored by others through cell phones and cameras, there are endless benefits and almost indispensable aid to our daily living as well. Needless to say, a coin has two sides, if we can utilize this technology in an intelligent manner, we will surely get benefited.
