Counterterrorism and Information Systems Your protection versus your rights - Research Paper Example

Counterterrorism and Information Systems: Your protection versus your rights of Maryland College In this era of technology, terrorists have managed to infiltrate governments and systems by implanting spies to do groundwork for them, plan then execute their terrorism act (John, 2003). After the 9/11 terrorist attack on American soil, U.S.A managed to instil stringent measures to ensure such events do not occur again. This gave rise to counterterrorism (John, 2003). In order for counterterrorism to be successful, it relies heavily on information collected on various events, people, organizations, and even documents.

Counterterrorism aims at picking up and detecting terrorist’s plans before expecting them by gathering information about their where about, plans and try by all means to have them arrested and prosecuted (John, 2003). The war towards terrorism has never been a smooth path, hence a number of ethical issues had to be broken. A country is always torn by the dilemma of either protecting its citizens from terrorism by use of information technology to feed them with required data to help them fight terrorism and the constitutional rights of individuals to have their personal rights (John, 2003).

It is evident that a sound decision in such a case is necessary as this is an ethical dilemma and one that can cause problems if messed around with. Vital information regarding people’s lives is usually interfered with in the process of counterterrorism (Policy, 2012). For instance, the government usually uses personal databases to extract information about certain people hence breaching their constitutional personal rights (Crenshaw, 2010). Faced with a tough decision on breaking its constitutional mandate to protect its citizens from terrorists and protecting their rights, somehow calls for a proper decision on whether counterterrorism use of information technology is ethical (Policy, 2012).

There usually so many ways which the government can combat terrorism without interfering with the personal rights of their individuals. This can involve sending spies to terrorist zones, of which it has not been successful as they eventually get discovered and stringent punishment administered to them (Policy, 2012). Another alternative to the government combating terrorism will be through fighting together with other countries to ensure that the leaders and the culprits funding them are detained (Shlomo, 2009).

In practical sense, these has been one impossible affair since most of the terrorist groups usually live in hiding and have spies all over when soldiers come to attack them (Lech, 2008). Another alternative that can be used to combat terrorism may be through rigorous checks and racial profiling of individuals from countries prone to harbour terrorist, like Muslim countries (Crenshaw, 2010). This cannot happen since it would cause worldwide rebellion and hatred of the U.S government resulting in more chaos and uncertainty in those regions.

Some of U.S citizens in diaspora working in such countries might face humiliation, discrimination and even subjected to death when such a system is put in place (Lech, 2008). In looking at the alterative provided in trying to make a sound decision on the most preferable way to go about with combating terrorism of a given country, still the use of information systems comes first because of a number of reasons (Lech, 2008). Acquisition of information regarding terrorist by use of information systems is usually silent and not alarming, hence the departments in charge of terrorism are able to take their time and filter out information and narrow down to a few suspects based on their findings (Crenshaw, 2010).

Terrorist usually affect the citizens of a given country by their acts, and it is usually the sole responsibility of the government to protect its citizens (Robert, 2006). Protecting millions of lives usually surpasses the rights of a single individual (Crenshaw, 2010). Terrorism is a worldwide menace, and if provided with the rightful condition, can cause immense havoc to the world (Robert, 2006). Hence the need to institute measures to monitor and detect any terrorism activity likely to occur before it happens.

In addition, in using information technology in counterterrorism, it somehow eliminates the issue of racial profiling related to individuals that come from Muslim states and regions that harbour terrorist groups. Furthermore, it would be beneficial in using information technology in combating terrorism as it would save the government cost and time of sending spies to the war stricken zones (Crenshaw, 2010). Hence, in coming to a conclusion on the ethical choice of using information technology to combat terrorism, I believe it is an ethical decision and which should be supported as it is for the good of it citizens when as it its advantages surpass its disadvantages (Crenshaw, 2010).

Hence in applying the utilitarian approach in ethical decision making, I believe this decision is paramount and beneficial to its citizens in as much as it entails breaking their constitutional mandate of protecting their citizen’s personal rights (Crenshaw, 2010). References Crenshaw. (2010). The consequences of counterterrorism. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. John L. Hennessy, D. A. (2003). Information Technology for Counterterrorism: Immediate Actions and Future Possibilities. New York: National Academies Press. Lech J. Janczewski, A. M. (2008).

Cyber warfare and cyber terrorism. New York: Idea Group Inc. Policy, E.-b. C. (2012). Evidence-based Counterterrorism Policy. New York: Springer. Robert L. Popp, J. Y. (2006). Emergent Information Technologies and Enabling Policies for Counter-Terrorism. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Shlomo Argamon, N. H. (2009). Computational methods for counterterrorism. New York: Springer.