The Nature Of Surveillance, Surveillance Implications for Security - Coursework Example

The Nature of Surveillance Student’s Name Institution’s Name Date The Nature of Surveillance Introduction Surveillance is the main factor of modern developed western societies. Surveillance practices and technologies are extensively used in various sectors that include security and police force, companies, hospitals, organizations, government, and retail stores among other places. Surveillance refers to selective, continuous observation of objects, persons, things or places so as to gather information. It is normally done for security purposes, though in some cases, it is done to ensure efficiency and prevent breaking of the operation rules (Ahmed, 2013). However, its use has highly created controversy on individual privacy and trust in social relation. Nevertheless, its great benefits on security related aspect has enhanced the extensive use of surveillance despite of the negative views. Surveillance is enhanced using various means that include the use of CCTVs, tracking devices, biometric means, trapping of telecommunication devices, GPS, and keystroke software among others. Its use has highly been enhanced by the development of big data technology which enhances the storage of huge volumes of data in the modern databases (Ju, 2014). This paper focuses on critically evaluating the nature of surveillance in big data context and in the context of security and privacy. Meaning of Surveillance in the Information Age Initially, surveillance involved the use of physical means or wiretapping of telecommunication devices to gain more information about things or a person. However, this has greatly changed with the evolution of communication technology in the world. The extensive use of computers, internet technology and revolutionary of database technology has brought a new meaning to surveillance (Burton, 2007). The modern form of surveillance involves the use of technical surveillance, which involves the use of technical devices to monitor, document or record, the movements, activities or conversations of a targeted individual. It entails a systematic continuous gathering, organization, and analysis of data and the timely information dissemination to those who require to know the action to be taken (Nostate.net, 2009). Surveillance is normally done for a reason which include security purpose or to enhance commitment and efficiency in work. Thus, surveillance devices are set in a manner that they will capture the required information with great level of efficiency, during normal business operations at all times. These devices are integrated into a complete database system where the captured data are stored to enhance further organization and analysis, to acquire the required information. Surveillance data collected depends on the targeted area or people and the devices used. Devices installed in public places focus on all individuals visiting these places, while surveillance devices employed in other places focus on particular individuals and their activities (Esposti & Gomez, 2015). In addition, some devices collect images while others collect voices. For instance, in retail stores the CCTVs focus on the activities of the customers, while in offices or companies, surveillance devices focus on collecting images on activities of workers (VDS, 2006). However, surveillance devices in cars and in computers focus on collecting particular information regarding the driver or user, for instance driver’s location or user’s keystrokes. In this regard, it can be said that the surveillance target depends on the actual activity taking place in the targeted area and the data processed can vary based on the device target (Cumming & Johan, 2015). Constitutes of Surveillance Surveillance involves diverse forms of collecting personal details regarding the targeted individuals. These different forms include listening devices in cars and homes, night-vision devices, tracking devices, CCTV videos or images, internet activity monitoring, and tapped telephones for the actual calls content or communication recording, or most frequently, categorical or numerical data, RFID employment on shipments, GPS to read individual position, and biometrics that include iris scans or fingerprints (Michael, 2014; Weinberg, 2004). Others may include the employment of computer activities monitoring software such as spyware or keystroke monitoring. As defined surveillance requires to be continuous, secretive watching of a vehicle, person, object, or place so as at to get information (Marx, 2004). Thus, surveillance needs to be undetected and unnoticed to enhance efficiency, to ensure that the individual being monitored is not cautious, but acts in the most natural way possible, based on his or her nature. In this regard, surveillance can be complex to detect since it strives to be hidden and convert. Information development via surveillance is normally a lengthy and progressive process (Lyon, 2002). The patterns of the overall picture of the targeted individual or event are developed from several pieces of information which are pieced together. Surveillance will usually start with limited information regarding the targeted workplace, residence or activity, and extra information will be developed so as to identify activities, times, travel routes, or location in which to centre the target pattern analysis or surveillance effort. This varies extensively based on where the surveillance is employed and the main purpose of the surveillance. More than one form of surveillance may be used while monitoring criminal behaviours of a person. However, one form of surveillance may be enough while monitoring work behaviour of an employee. Who is Being Watched and by Whom The surveillance target normally varies based on the places where surveillance is employed. In retail stores, surveillance involves watching of the customers’ activities by the management as a way of detecting petty theft. In companies, surveillance focuses on individuals who access the company and is purposely meant to deny access to unauthorized individuals and create an alarm in case a force entry is made. This is either done by the security personnel or the management. In the workplace, surveillance involves monitoring of individual worker’s activities. This can vary based on the assignments given (Fuchs, 2015). For those using computers, their activities can be monitored either with a CCTV or installed software, which snoop on visited sites or individual keystrokes. For those travelling from one place to another, tracking devices may be used to find of their where about. Employees’ phones calls may also be recorded or tapped for general data on their usage and the form of communication done (Koskela, 2000; Potokar & Bernik, 2014). All this is done by the employer with intention of enhancing work efficiency. In public surveillance is enhanced by the government security department with intention of monitoring activities in a certain area for security purposes (Home Office, 2010; Potokar & Androic, 2016). This enhances the identification of offenders in the public. Surveillance is also used on roads by traffic department to identify traffic offenders and accident events (Lin, 2016). It can also be used by parents to monitor the movement of their teenage children or to monitor their calls and internet activities. In schools, surveillance is normally used in exam rooms to monitor on exam irregularities. Thus, surveillance applicants and targets can vary extensively based on the places and intended information. Surveillance Implications for Privacy Surveillance has played a great role in interfering with the privacy of individuals in the public. People have turned to be surveillance targets in every turn of life. Information about people is collected in beauty parlours, in transaction with retailers, day-care providers, medical care givers, and mail order companies among other places (ACLU, 2016; Privacy International, n.d.). This information is stored, analysed and in some cases shared. There is uncontrollable harvesting of individual information from different governmental agencies for security purposes, which in its self threatens privacy of innocent citizens. Surveillance is workplace has highly interfered with workers’ right to privacy (Galetta, 2013; Nieto et al., 2002; York, 2014). Despite work privacy being considered as human basic need in various nations, the advancement of surveillance in workplace has highly infringed this right as employers employ more effort to enhance monitoring of their employees (Ju, 2014; Nissenbaum, 1998). Surveillance also interferes with individual health privacy as more and more information is collected and stored as a way of monitoring individual health progress. This information is highly retrievable and can highly be shared without the patient consent (Haggerty & Trottier, 2015). Surveillance Implications for Security Surveillance has played a great role in enhancing security in different organization and more to the general security of a country. Surveillance have been extensively use by the security agencies to track down criminals and to collect all the required proof to enhance the legal action against them. It has also played a great role in fighting terrorism that had turned to be a great challenge in the world (Esposti & Gomez, 2015). Surveillance can therefore be commended for playing a great role in identifying possible security threats and curbing them before they turn to be destructive (Nostate, 2009). Surveillance is also used in medical organization to monitor individual health development and employ possible measures to prevent further destructions. It is also highly employed in monitoring and controlling the spread of communicable diseases in the society. Thus, surveillance plays a great role in identifying changes in medical condition in the society, particularly in identifying rising cases of certain medical condition in the society, and enhances the development of strategies to control it (WHO, 2006). Conclusion The growth of computer and electronic technology has played a great part in the development of technical surveillance in the world. Surveillance has been widely employed by different organizations and institutions with intention of enhancing work efficiency and security. Surveillance has played a great role in reducing the security threats in various places, especially in terrorism. Nevertheless, the extensive collection, storage, analysis, and sharing of individual data has highly interfered with people privacy. This has created controversy of the application of surveillance in the public, despite of its contribution in security matters. References ACLU. (2016). Privacy and surveillance. Retrieved from < https://www.aclu.org/issues/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance> Ahmed, S. (2013). Censorship and surveillance in the global information age: Are telecommunications companies agents of suppression or revolution. 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