Global Surveillance
Surveillance is a global phenomenon due to a number of reasons, safety being one that is most stressed to the public, but it is also used as information intelligence, information sharing and exchange. With global networks and mass media, information constantly flows and is shared among people and countries. Technology is the biggest thing to be used globally and catch on and be shared between nations due to globalisation and global networks, and the global village.
We are all connected as one, through an interconnection of activities, resulting in shared data, including technologies and ideologies such as surveillance. Although it is emphasized to the mass populace by governing bodies that surveillance is positive, and necessary and used for protection, it can also be used with malicious intent. Phishing can use types of surveillance on emails to gather information and sell it on to other parties without permission, similarly, corporations and mobile phones are capable of also being used as a type of information gathering surveillance, with their electronic serial number, combined with their phone number, making the phone capable of being tracked by telecommunications service providers. They can be used for location and tracking surveillance via GPS and this information can be sold onwards.
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A big issue with surveillance in Australia right now, is the gathering of meta-data. Meta-data can be used to track sites and data exchange, but does not directly invade ones privacy, as is a hot topic of surveillance and is its biggest flaw. Persons are able to harness hacking and data information and use it to survey and stalk other individuals. This is quite easily available through social media, and is less likely to take place through other methods that require more knowledge and skill and are usually just for extreme cases. People can put their whole lives on display through social media, and we can be surveyed and data can be gathered this way.
When global surveillance is used to hide information instead of share it, it stops the flow of data that is needed for globalisation. Communication and data able for learning is reduced, resulting in a less rich culture globally. Hiding information can be used to stop the spread of panic, but usually just causes mistrust. All information to be handled responsively and with etiquette to the public and the information provider or subject.
REFERENCES
Gates, K & Magnet, S 2007 Communication Research and the Study of Surveillance
