Module 6 Discussion: The NSA, Bulk Data Collection, and Government Surveillance

Review the following. Pay particular attention to the last few minutes.

Full Interview: Edward Snowden On Trump, Privacy, And Threats To Democracy | The 11th Hour | MSNBC
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9yK1QndJSM& )

Discuss your thoughts about the pervasive, secret collection of bulk data by the U.S. government on American citizens, including where it might lead next. In doing so, consider the following questions:

1- Are you comfortable with the U.S. government seizing and storing, basically forever, all of your phone records, texts, e-mails, internet searches, and social media posts, “just in case” they might want to look at them later?

2- Do you believe that you have a reasonable expectation of privacy in your personal e-mails, texts, and internet browsing history? Do you feel that the activities of the NSA violate your right to privacy? If not, what, if anything, do you think the right to privacy still protects? Do you even really care about this stuff?
3- Is it appropriate for the government to do this secretly and without the consent of the people?

4- Where might all this “well intentioned” government action eventually lead?

ANSWER

The NSA, Bulk Data Collection, and Government Surveillance

From the video by Edward Snowden s, it is manifest that the US Citizen’s data has been collected without their permission or consent. This is a serious issue that ought to be critically analyzed and discussed to get the most sustainable measures that can stop the government or any other private organization from the private collection of bulk data involving innocent citizens.

It is quite uncomfortable to learn about how the government handles personal data for citizens. Based on the video by Edward, it is manifest that the government does not protect the rule of law, especially the USA Freedom Act, which prohibits it from using bulk metadata collection known as call detail records (CDR) program (MSNBC, 2019). It is also uncomfortable to learn that the government has, in many cases, been collecting data without the consent of the citizens, where in some cases, it gets to sue them or look at them later against the will of a citizen (ProPublica, 2013). However, it is also manifest that there are unclear laws that tend to permit the government to collect a vast amount of phone metadata. The National security Agency in 2018 collected over 19 million phone numbers, which is a worrying trend and one that makes the citizens be in danger of having their data with the government unknowingly (LAPERRUQUE, 2019).

Do you believe that you have a reasonable expectation of privacy in your personal emails, texts, and internet browsing history?

I believe that it is improbable that personal emails and texts are no longer rate given that the NSA has been acquiring data and information from people’s devices without their consent. It is troubling to realize the United States’ national security can access any information and probably have all the citizens’ data and hence can access or read any private information of any given person with no one holding them accountable.

Do you feel that the activities of NSA violate your right to privacy?

The activities by NSA are a  huge violation of the rights to privacy by the citizens. This is since the government most likely has the details of information such as the person who anyone is calling, the activities one is undertaking, and intimate information about people’s personal lives (hrw.org, 2020).  Failure to protect the citizens’ privacy means that they are at a  huge risk of having all the activities they undertake exposed and sued wrongly without their consent which is unacceptable.

Is it appropriate for the government to do this secretly and without the consent of the people?

It is appropriate and unlawful for the government to collect and access any personal information secretly without consent.  There is a need for Congress to develop laws that will protect US citizens against such data collection and invasion of privacy. The court of law could also make judgments regarding the subject matter. It will ensure that all citizens are protected and do not have to worry about the  NSA and other security agencies interfering with their personal lives by acquiring private data and information.

Where might all this “well intentioned” government action eventually lead?

As much as the government’s intention may be well-intentioned, failure to limit what type of data to collect will leave the citizens exposed and without any privacy. This may also result in very sensitive personal information getting exposed to the public, more so in case of system hitch or hacking. Therefore, there is a need for the government to have better measures of protecting the citizens without having to access their private information.

References

hrw.org. (2020). US: End Bulk Data Collection Program. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/05/us-end-bulk-data-collection-program

LAPERRUQUE, J. (2019). The History and Future of Mass Metadata Surveillance. Retrieved from https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2019/06/the-history-and-future-of-mass-metadata-surveillance/

MSNBC. (2019). Full Interview: Edward Snowden On Trump, Privacy, And Threats To Democracy | The 11th Hour | MSNBC. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9yK1QndJSM

ProPublica. (2013). FAQ: What You Need to Know About the NSA’s Surveillance Programs. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/nsa-data-collection-faq