#5 Law Enforcement and Surveillance

At the turn on this century, much debate has swarmed around law enforcement and what they are able to do legally. After 9/11, the attack led the U.S. government developing a law that allowed federal agents and police force to investigate suspicious people. This was known as the Patriot Act. This gave law enforcers the liberty to search and investigate anyone who potentially was suspected of terrorism . To some, they feel it gave law enforcers power over the Fourth Amendment that keeps law enforcement from exploiting their power and ensuring people's right to privacy. 

This heated topic has escalated over the past two decades. Due to recent rise in police brutality, people are demanding safe guards. Many minority groups have been the target for police brutality with the majority being African Americans, and now, they are wanting protection from their own government. The struggle with how much power to give the government and law enforcers has been a topic for centuries; easily since the rise of modern government. 

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However, the turn on the century has led to some interesting ways this issue is being combated. Many police officers, especially in large cities, are now required to wear body cameras. Before, the idea of surveillance was used to watched the general populace to catch criminals is the act. Now, in some ways, the tables have turned. We can now use this technology to keep our law enforcers responsible also.  This has not passed in all states, but it is in the works for many and many others have adopted this policy. 

The idea behind the body cameras is to keep police accountable. The news is filled with incidences that showed countless people losing their lives that could have been avoided. And many were enraged because they felt the police went off free without being  properly charged like they would have if they were average citizens. This type of reverse surveillance is to keep the police accountable the same as general surveillance keeps its citizens accountable. 

"That said, cameras are not useless. They just serve a different purpose: rather than changing ingrained behaviors, they illuminate them for police and public scrutiny." Source

During the twenty first century, the idea of surveillance is changing. Before, the idea was so that the government could keep tabs on you, but now people are seeing that it is a two way street. Modern technology is allowing for hard evidence to be produced in court. It is no longer a battle of his word against mine; instead, there is documented proof. The hope is that this will keep individuals free from being persecuted or victimized. 

Though the debate of how much the government is allowed to invade your privacy in the name of safety is still a touchy debate being negotiated. There are pros and cons to both, and strict consideration is needed when moving forward with this topic. However, the issuing of body cameras is a positive start. This is using the surveillance technology to the benefit of both parties. It keeps the deception out of court and provides justice for the victim whether that be a person harassed by the police or a police officer wrongly accused of abuse of power. The people are able to decided what was right and wrong and what truly happened based on  the recorded evidence. I foresee this technology being implemented in various cities and police departments because it appears to be the way of the future.