Question

08:48According to the website of the Los Angeles Times, "the immigration and customs enforcement agency often collects citizens' personal information across legal and moral boundaries". The Bureau has established a wide range of monitoring infrastructure, which can track anyone at almost any time. And the Bureau improved its monitoring capability almost completely secretly and unsupervised, avoiding the relevant regulations. Facts have proved that monitoring has little effect in combating terrorism. Instead, our ordinary citizens have become suspects, and citizens have no privacy at all. What is the purpose of the authorities and governments?

Answer 1

The authorities and governments use surveillance to maintain national security and public safety, but it often raises concerns over civil liberties and privacy. Laws like the USA PATRIOT Act have facilitated potential governmental overreach, leading to disproportionate monitoring of citizens. Legal precedents, such as Carpenter v. United States, aim to balance the use of surveillance with constitutional rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of authorities and governments utilizing surveillance, as described, can be complex and multifaceted. Agencies like the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI aim to ensure national security and prevent and solve crimes, including terrorism. However, the expansion of surveillance capabilities, particularly through technological means, has raised serious civil liberties concerns related to privacy, potential overreach, and the need to balance security with individual freedoms. Critics argue that laws such as the USA PATRIOT Act have empowered government agencies to bypass traditional checks and balances, leading to increased scrutiny of everyday citizens rather than solely targeting potential terrorists.

Legal challenges, such as Carpenter v. United States, have reinforced constitutional protections, suggesting a need for warrants to gather certain types of data. While technological advancements in surveillance serve practical purposes and can enhance safety, they simultaneously create opportunities for misuse. Therefore, open discourse and legal frameworks are critical for managing these surveillance tools, ensuring they serve the public's interest without infringing upon fundamental rights.