Thoughts on Surveilance

After viewing the Surveillance documentary in class this past week I left feeling shocked and a little conflicted. To begin, I must admit that I was pretty ignorant about the amount of surveillance all of us are under. I was aware of red light cameras, security cameras in public places as well as the advent of satellite imaging but those methods of surveillance only scratch the surface of what is really going on. I had no idea that my printer was being watched nor was I aware of the scope of information that was being collected about me and then sold to the highest bidder. It is not so much the fact that this is going on that bugs me so much as it is the fact that I’m not aware of it. Are these companies telling us about their information collecting when we buy their products, I don’t know; I haven’t really been looking. I do know that I think they should and that I’ll be looking and thinking a little more as I purchase new products and services
as well as any time I give my personal information out.

Now I do believe that our government does need to observe the flow of information globally to protect our society. In addition, with the rise of sexual predators in our society, parents and individuals need the means to protect their children as well as themselves. However, we as citizens have the responsibility to watch the government (and private industry) to make sure they are not going to far. The system of checks and balances is always in jeopardy as we have witnessed in the post 911 world.  Government aside I am troubled by the prospect of private business using information collected about peoples searching habits and then using it for their own monetary gain. I conjure the scenario in my head of people with sexual deviant pasts such as rapist and child sex offenders who have served their time and paid their debt to society (in theory…) being pulled back into their sick behavior by pornography providers who target them using their own past search
histories.

In conclusion, I believe our best defense against unethical use of information trafficking and surveillance is awareness. As artists, we have the unique ability to make me people look at things in a way or from a perspective they wouldn’t normally consider. I look forward to exploring these issues further in my work to enhance my own awareness as well as that of others about this alarming trend that isn’t going away any time soon.