DB Replies

4

Samuel Frank

In today’s society, not only in the United States but also abroad, I believe that a “Big Brother” style/structure of government is very prevalent. “Big Brother” actions, policies, and laws are often guised as initiatives for the betterment of society. The federal government and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have mandated by law that American users of everyday applications like Vemno, CashApp, and PayPal, submit IRS tax forms if your total annual transactions are over a measly $600.00. Major credit card companies are flagging specific transactions made by their subscribers that are for purchases of firearms or ammunition. Various religious and activist groups who are vocally opposed to abortion have even been labeled loosely as domestic terrorist. In 2013 Edward Snowden, an ex-Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst, leaked massive amounts of secret information pertaining to the domestic and international data collection and harvesting programs the federal government and intelligence agencies have using to spy on millions, if not billions of people. Snowden exposed the programs due to what he claimed were his own personal ethical concerns. According to A.W. Geiger of the Pew Research Center, over 56% of Americans believe that the courts have not imposed strict enough limits on data collection by the intelligence agencies in addition to the 70% of Americans who believed that the government was using the data collected from public for reasons beyond anti-terrorism purposes (2018). The rise and rapid advancement of technology combined with the immense growth of the federal government over the last few decades has laid the foundation for an invasive, anti-privacy Big Brother state. According to an article on Security.org, approximately half of all internet users are utilizing VPNs (virtual private networks) in order to shield their personal information and internet data not only from online threats but from government spying as well (2024). There are a slew of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies that continue to grow year by year who are also utilizing these technologies which leaves your own personal and private in question. The Pew Research Center also conducted a study on smart phones, outlining that 91% of adult Americans have smart phones – GPS capable, which means very easily trackable (2024). As more government whistleblowers bring to light the capabilities and covert actions taken by intelligence agencies even against the unknowingly American public, the more likely we are to feel not so private nor free.

References

Tanczer, L. M., Deibert, R. J., Bigo, D., Franklin, M. I., Melgaço, L., Lyon, D., ... & Milan, S. (2020). Online surveillance, censorship, and encryption in academia.  International Studies Perspectives,  21(1), 1-36. https://academic.oup.com/isp/article-abstract/21/1/1/5584393

Sharon, T. (2021). Blind-sided by privacy? Digital contact tracing, the Apple/Google API and big tech’s newfound role as global health policy makers.  Ethics and information technology,  23(Suppl 1), 45-57. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-020-09547-x

Bible Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV).

Lynell Wright

This rising tide of surveillance from governments and private corporations in recent years is alarming. Technology offers authorities all forms of tools for monitoring the activities of citizens; it goes from face recognition systems all through wide-ranging data mining. The fear is of creating the “Big Brother” society, where every move is recorded and the privacy is reduced between every inch. The proponents may argue such measures are necessary for public safety, like preventing crime or terrorism, yet they make one question whether the price of loss of privacy overrides all these considerations.

The same perspective about privacy can be drawn with regard to human dignity and respect for the individual from Psalm 139:1-4, where David was saying just how intimately God knew each person: “O Lord, you have searched me, and you know me... You are familiar with all my ways.” Considering this gives an insight that the prime value and dignity of an individual are founded on the idea that personal privacy must be an issue to God. This is in consideration of loss of privacy in relation to this divine understanding of personal worth.

If wisdom is very largely a quality of protecting the well-being of others, the conflicting application of this heart of wisdom requires well-disciplined energies. Proverbs 4:7 tells, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” In other words, under some circumstances, the kind of surveillance that makes habits criminal is used in the name of security and safety and is justified as long as these means are entirely appropriate and pragmatically implemented.

In the end, privacy and security exist in a delicate balance. There is no doubt that safety is important, but probably the biggest danger to security is contrary to freedom itself. We Christians are, above all, mandated to respect the dignity of one another and to lay policies and practices consonant with love and justice.

4

Samuel Frank

In today’s society, not only in the United States but also abroad, I believe that a “Big Brother” style/structure of government is very prevalent. “Big Brother” actions, policies, and laws are often guised as initiatives for the betterment of society. The federal government and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have mandated by law that American users of everyday applications like Vemno, CashApp, and PayPal, submit IRS tax forms if your total annual transactions are over a measly $600.00. Major credit card companies are flagging specific transactions made by their subscribers that are for purchases of firearms or ammunition. Various religious and activist groups who are vocally opposed to abortion have even been labeled loosely as domestic terrorist. In 2013 Edward Snowden, an ex-Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst, leaked massive amounts of secret information pertaining to the domestic and international data collection and harvesting programs the federal government and intelligence agencies have using to spy on millions, if not billions of people. Snowden exposed the programs due to what he claimed were his own personal ethical concerns. According to A.W. Geiger of the Pew Research Center, over 56% of Americans believe that the courts have not imposed strict enough limits on data collection by the intelligence agencies in addition to the 70% of Americans who believed that the government was using the data collected from public for reasons beyond anti-terrorism purposes (2018). The rise and rapid advancement of technology combined with the immense growth of the federal government over the last few decades has laid the foundation for an invasive, anti-privacy Big Brother state. According to an article on Security.org, approximately half of all internet users are utilizing VPNs (virtual private networks) in order to shield their personal information and internet data not only from online threats but from government spying as well (2024). There are a slew of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies that continue to grow year by year who are also utilizing these technologies which leaves your own personal and private in question. The Pew Research Center also conducted a study on smart phones, outlining that 91% of adult Americans have smart phones – GPS capable, which means very easily trackable (2024). As more government whistleblowers bring to light the capabilities and covert actions taken by intelligence agencies even against the unknowingly American public, the more likely we are to feel not so private nor free.

References

Tanczer, L. M., Deibert, R. J., Bigo, D., Franklin, M. I., Melgaço, L., Lyon, D., ... & Milan, S. (2020). Online surveillance, censorship, and encryption in academia.  International Studies Perspectives,  21(1), 1-36. https://academic.oup.com/isp/article-abstract/21/1/1/5584393

Sharon, T. (2021). Blind-sided by privacy? Digital contact tracing, the Apple/Google API and big tech’s newfound role as global health policy makers.  Ethics and information technology,  23(Suppl 1), 45-57. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-020-09547-x

Bible Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV).