Analyse how the information society and new communication technologies are affecting internet surveillance and discuss this concept in relation to privacy.
It is no surprise that society has become increasingly conscience of their surroundings, possibly to the extent of paranoia, with the threat of terrorist attacks and reports of murder and criminal activity occurring everyday. These atrocities encourage individuals to accept new communication technologies in the form of surveillance as a system of security which “makes it far more difficult for people who actually want to commit a crime.” (Munro, J. 2006, Para 2) As a communication and information technology, the internet offers a vast range of opportunities. It also creates privacy risks concerning personal data and identity, with new communication technologies being used as surveillance devices which intrude the privacy of others. Is the next big thing to increase the paranoia of society the risk of losing confidentiality, personal data, even an individuals own identity? This paper looks at the rise of the informational society, within this new communication technology, and the effect it has on internet surveillance. This concept will be discussed in relation to the personal and informational privacy of individuals.
The rapid rise of new communication technologies and increased knowledge has led to the current era in which we live being referred to as an ‘information society.’ This society has been created by the “volume and velocity of information” (Webster, 2002, Para 12) which is contained in the new communication technologies. Within this society the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information is significant within our economic, political and cultural lives. The new communication technologies “offer increasing efficiency and connectivity for business, governments and individuals” (http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/61286.html) and are being introduced ay an increasing rate, affecting human communication with profound impact. The 20th century is said to be the era in which mass amounts of “privacy invasive technologies” (Clarke, 2001, 2) arose, such as caller ID and monitoring of emails and web usage.
It is a current concern that new information technologies, especially the internet, are being exploited as a method of surveillance; “the marriage of computers and telecommunications is the major material force in the new technology of surveillance” (Oscar, H. Gandy, Jr. 1989, 63) with both positive and negative opinions concerning this idea. Modern surveillance technology is defined as “an integrated system of hardware and software that includes devices for sensing, measuring, storing, processing and exchanging information and intelligence about the environment.” (Oscar, H. Gandy, Jr. 1989, 62) These devices are sometimes obvious, however are becoming increasingly discrete, which is easiest to do on the internet, this being the reason why the internet is becoming more popular as a medium of surveillance. It has even been suggested that the ‘information society’ has passed and is being replaced by the ‘surveillance society’ which “sneaked under our guard and has been implemented.” (Clarke, 2001, 1)
The internet is a new communication technology which has moulded the ‘information society’ and is becoming increasingly popular everyday. “The internet began in the 1970’s as an academic computer science experiment funded by the U.S Department of Defence.” (Clarke, 2001, 3) It is now primarily a means of communication, and a source of knowledge, being referred to as “the biggest revolution next to the industrial revolution.” (http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/61286.html) The internet has “transformed the nature of surveillance,” (Oscar, H. Gandy, Jr. 1989, 63) where information is measured, processed and exchanged by unknown specialists and technicians. This information could be about anyone using the internet as “individuals are no longer brought under surveillance merely to determine whether they have committed a crime…more frequently to determine if an individual has even the potential to commit a criminal act.” (Oscar, H. Gandy, Jr. 1989, 63) This idea creates many ethical issues, the most concerning being privacy.Privacy comes in many forms, informational and personal being the two most obvious. An individuals privacy is breached when personal data and personal information has been interfered with by other people. The previous discussion of new communication technologies, especially the internet, within the information society has suggested that if they are used in a particular way that, yes, they can violate interests of privacy. Roger Clarke, author of ‘Information Privacy on the Internet’ believes that “privacy is under severe threat as a result of, among other things, the application of advances information technologies.” (Clarke, R 2001 page number) He goes on to further describe the internet as “a vast array of ways in which people’s privacy can be and is being intruded upon.” (Clarke, 2001, 2)
This analysis of new communication technologies and the internet and its consequent discussion of privacy is liable to comparison with the ‘prophetic nightmarish vision’ concerning surveillance presented in George Orwell’s dystopian future narrative nineteen eighty four. Within this novel there are realistic technologies such as two way video screens and microphones which are used to track every move, feeling and thought of individuals within this world. The theme of surveillance within the culture is reinforced on all levels by the constantly repeated slogan ‘Big Brother is watching you.’ The surveillance in this novel seems extreme and completely unbelievable in present society, however it has been compared to internet surveillance which is described as “embedded in the construction of identity, political culture, the practices of everyday life, and in forms of power and resistance.” In a final comparison of Orwell’s vision and Internet surveillance, Roger Clarke surmises his opinion, “The last 50 years of technological development has delivered far superior surveillance tools than Orwell imagined. And we didn’t even notice.” (Clarke, 2001, 7)
In concluding this paper the concept of whether ‘surveillance society’ has replaced the ‘information society’ is brought back to surface. It has been clarified that the advance of communication technologies is significantly affecting human nature, especially the rapid rise of the World Wide Web. The discussion of privacy concerning the internet suggests that the confidentiality of individual’s information and personal data is disintegrating. In addition, the comparison of modern surveillance to that portrayed in Orwell’s dystopian narrative further supports the theory of a surveillance society. The use of surveillance has become a part of everyday life for society, especially concerning internet users. The fact that it has been established in a discrete manner with many people still unaware of its effects is bound to have an interesting effect concerning the privacy of individuals.
References
Oscar, H. Gandy, Jr. (1989) The Surveillance Society: Information Technology and Bureaucratic Social Control Journal of Communication 39 (3), 61-76
Munro, Julianna. (2006) Just what is Surveillance Technology? http://www.webraydian.com/content/view/221/32 Accessed 6th May 2007Webster (2002)
How the Information Society differs from other Societies http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/staff/ampuja/intro3.htm Accessed 6th May 2007
How significant has technology been in the development of human communications in the twentieth century?http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/61286.html Accessed 6th May 2007
Clarke, R (2001) While you were sleeping … Surveillance Technologies Arrived, Australian Quarterly 73.1, 1-8
No comments:
Post a Comment