Modern Surveillance, Defining Human Rights
Humans all have the right to be free from intruding surveillance in their everyday lives; this fundamental human right has existed for centuries. In the early days of human history, physical barriers such as fortress walls provided physical protection from outside invaders who had the intent of actively surveilling a population. Fortunately, today, there is a stronger sense of understanding and protection of that right in modern societies. Yet, just as technology advances, so does the tactic of surveillance. Governments, law enforcement, corporations, and even the average consumer have access to modern surveillance technology—and with it, the temptation to overstep the boundaries of human rights.
Surveillance technology has been a part of modern society since the mid-1900s; however, its capabilities have increased greatly in the last decade. Security cameras, data recovery and analysis, drones, facial recognition, tracking apps, and software accessing and monitoring communications—these tools are just a few of the ways governments, businesses, and concerned citizens are rapidly modernizing the way surveillance is practiced. Such innovation has brought about a massive boon for surveillance, making it both easier and cheaper for entities to continuously observe individuals and their activities.
At the same time, this high-tech surveillance presents a real danger to individuals with regards to their privacy, security, and freedom of expression. No longer are people safe from the eyes of an all-seeing force; rather, they must be constantly aware and aware of the potential intrusions upon their right to be left alone. Combined with a lack of oversight on the part of those in charge of such technology and the data it collects, the probability of violating human right is disturbingly high.
For example, in some countries, surveillance technologies are used to identify and track people based on their political opinions, religious beliefs, or other activities that are traditionally protected by law. The purpose of such surveillance is to restrict a person’s freedom to peacefully express themselves and communicate with others, or to find out their whereabouts in order to control them. Such blatant disregard for personal privacy and security is considered a breach of international human rights.
At the same time, some countries are utilizing facial recognition technology for criminal activity detection and prevention. Although this might seem like a good way to protect the public, in reality, it is a major breach of privacy, as well as a risk of misidentification and false accusations. Furthermore, the databases used for such recognition can become susceptible to hacking, leaving personal information vulnerable to external forces.
Finally, there is the issue of “mass surveillance,” where a government or other entity is able to indiscriminately monitor the actions of everyone without their knowledge. This is often done without any specific purpose, other than simply collecting data. This type of surveillance violates several of the fundamental rights promised by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to privacy, freedom of association, and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
As technology continues to advance, so will the invasive capabilities of surveillance. It is important to remember that modern surveillance should never be taken lightly and that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that human rights are not breached through its use. Companies, consumers, and the government must work together to ensure there are regulations in place to protect the fundamental freedoms of individuals, both on and offline. A balance must be struck that allows governments and businesses to utilize surveillance to maintain law and order, while ensuring that individuals are not stripped of their basic rights to privacy, safety, and autonomy. By doing so, modern surveillance can be used in a responsible, respectful way that enhances the protection of human rights.
