An Analysis of Digital Government Surveillance from the Legal and Sociological Perspectives
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Thomas Loikith
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 12:45 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 1:45 PM
Description
he threat to national security after September 11, 2001, resulted in the adoption of extreme and intrusive government surveillance programs. For example, the USA PATRIOT Act authorizes agencies to engage in surveillance and collect private information with little supervision or accountability. Such broad measures are subject to abuse. However, the government clearly needs to protect national security. What can and should be done to protect the national security of the United States while protecting the privacy and due process rights of Americans? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. This greater understanding may lead to solutions to the problem as well as encourage additional research in new directions. I have researched the problem through the disciplines of law and sociology. I used qualitative research methodology and analyzed scholarly sources to find common ground between relevant disciplinary insights. I then integrated such common insights to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding and suggest possible resolutions to the research problem. I conclude that Congress and other relevant stakeholders should seek agreement on amendments to the PATRIOT Act and similar laws that will preserve constitutional rights while protecting national security. Such amendments should include provisions for greater Congressional and judicial oversight of surveillance programs, increased burdens of proof when an agency seeks records from private persons, and more transparency in the operation of surveillance programs so that the public can monitor the government’s use of authority given it by law.
An Analysis of Digital Government Surveillance from the Legal and Sociological Perspectives
he threat to national security after September 11, 2001, resulted in the adoption of extreme and intrusive government surveillance programs. For example, the USA PATRIOT Act authorizes agencies to engage in surveillance and collect private information with little supervision or accountability. Such broad measures are subject to abuse. However, the government clearly needs to protect national security. What can and should be done to protect the national security of the United States while protecting the privacy and due process rights of Americans? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. This greater understanding may lead to solutions to the problem as well as encourage additional research in new directions. I have researched the problem through the disciplines of law and sociology. I used qualitative research methodology and analyzed scholarly sources to find common ground between relevant disciplinary insights. I then integrated such common insights to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding and suggest possible resolutions to the research problem. I conclude that Congress and other relevant stakeholders should seek agreement on amendments to the PATRIOT Act and similar laws that will preserve constitutional rights while protecting national security. Such amendments should include provisions for greater Congressional and judicial oversight of surveillance programs, increased burdens of proof when an agency seeks records from private persons, and more transparency in the operation of surveillance programs so that the public can monitor the government’s use of authority given it by law.