Surveillance– Essay

Have we civilized countries grown to be dependent on the benefits modern technology provides us? As technology has progressed through the decades, we have greeted the simplicity and efficiency it has brought us with open arms. Little did we know that these revolutionizing creations of Mankind would one day be implements misused in a never-ending battle, between individual privacy and state power.

Surveillance around the world has strongly increased after the terrorist acts of 9/11. This has led to a strong media focus on the impact the different kinds of surveillance technology will have on our societies.
The first text “The Spy in Your Refrigerator” is an excerpt from an article in The UNESCO Courier, written March 2001 by Simon Davies. The article focuses on the civilian surveillance and its’ evolution. The fear of surveillance growing into an uncontainable situation is clearly illustrated in the quote “… surveillance that will one day cross all national boundaries – touching citizens everywhere” (p.4,ll.15-16). The writer makes use of the persuasion mode, Pathos, as he plays with our emotions regarding our fears against the states invasion of privacy. Furthermore we are introduced to the different kinds of surveillance methods and technology. The most common and obvious practice of surveillance is the “Closed circuit television cameras” (CCTV). They are neither hidden nor unnoticeable, but simply monitor private properties or numerous town streets, hence working as a scarecrow towards possible thieves, burglars and acts of vandalism. Secondly are the more high-tech “biometric identifiers”. These are dependent on the human characteristics and traits such as our fingerprint, handprint and eye, which are unique for every person. The purposes of these “biometric identifiers” are to keep track of individuals. Whether you are traveling or