Should the government be allowed to monitor all forms of communication?
Week 38 / Security
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FOR
The monitoring of communications is necessary to investigate serious crime and protect national security from threats such as terrorism. The recent communications revolution has only increased the need for the state to protect society from those who utilize new ways of connecting to target the vulnerable.Governments need to be involved in monitoring communications in order to define what is necessary for the protection of society. Communications data is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies to track murderers, paedophiles, save lives and tackle crime. It is the states responsibility to gather evidence wherever it can to safeguard its citizens.
AGAINST
Snooping on all forms of communication runs counter to a free society with freedom of speech. It would be a colossal waste of resources and has extremely sinister overtones. Society is already weary of increases in surveillance of everyday activities and would regard this as a step too far. There is no justification for millions of people to be turned into permanent suspects. Very few would like sensitive data on religious beliefs or political views to be monitored by the state. The government has a poor record on data security. We would be less safe for giving our privacy away.
Matt C Stokes
Matt C Stokes is an Illustrator from London. He’s created illustrations for magazines including Dazed & Confused, T-shirt designs for Boxfresh, animations for Unilever and book covers for a wide range of publishers. Screen-prints are his favourite thing right now. He works in a pottery café at the weekend sometimes, and generally feels awkward talking about himself in the third person. When not working he spends his time running, reading Philip K Dick, eating pizza and drinking Coca-Cola
Week 38 / Security
The monitoring of communications is necessary to investigate serious crime and protect national security from threats such as terrorism. The recent communications revolution has only increased the need for the state to protect society from those who utilize new ways of connecting to target the vulnerable.Governments need to be involved in monitoring communications in order to define what is necessary for the protection of society. Communications data is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies to track murderers, paedophiles, save lives and tackle crime. It is the states responsibility to gather evidence wherever it can to safeguard its citizens.
AGAINST
Snooping on all forms of communication runs counter to a free society with freedom of speech. It would be a colossal waste of resources and has extremely sinister overtones. Society is already weary of increases in surveillance of everyday activities and would regard this as a step too far. There is no justification for millions of people to be turned into permanent suspects. Very few would like sensitive data on religious beliefs or political views to be monitored by the state. The government has a poor record on data security. We would be less safe for giving our privacy away.
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Matt C Stokes
Matt C Stokes is an Illustrator from London. He’s created illustrations for magazines including Dazed & Confused, T-shirt designs for Boxfresh, animations for Unilever and book covers for a wide range of publishers. Screen-prints are his favourite thing right now. He works in a pottery café at the weekend sometimes, and generally feels awkward talking about himself in the third person. When not working he spends his time running, reading Philip K Dick, eating pizza and drinking Coca-Cola
You can see more of Matts work at www.mattcstokes.com
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