#pro security

When the 4th Amendment was added to the United States constitution, there was no worldwide Internet, phones hadn’t yet been invented and threats of human trafficking, terrorist attacks and illegal drugs weren’t as rampant as they are in modern day society. To hold steadfast to this archaic belief system, being privacy over safety, is endangering national security. To put your personal privacy above the protection of the citizens of the United States could be called selfish. While many call the government’s surveillance of the Internet a violation of the 4th amendment, it is, in fact, ensuring domestic tranquility and protecting the people. The following example outline scenarios in which call for government surveillance. They show the benefits of security over privacy.

Example 1: The owner of a human trafficking ring enslaved one of your relatives and/or close friends. The government’s only chance in finding her is to search the Internet database, along with browsing through emails of select individuals. However, they are not sure of the exact individual, therefore must dig through countless emails/data collection of potentially innocent citizens of our country. If you’re opposed to this because it violates specific freedoms, let me remind you of the rape, torture and starvation that over 2.5 million people must go through every day as victims of human trafficking. If you’re in support of government surveillance in this case scenario but not others, remember that just because it’s not happening to you, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Example 2: The terrorist group known as al-Qaeda has been communicating over email about an upcoming attack on American soil. If the government had access to these emails, they could save hundreds, thousands or even millions of lives. Would you rather the terrorist attack have been executed? Would you rather the government scan the emails of United States citizens to look for domestic threats, or to risk the lives of innocent people, including elderly, children and pregnant women?

Example 3: A college student, a high school student so naïve, stumbles upon a website selling illegal drugs. They settle upon one that’s potentially fatal, unknowingly risking their lives. Wouldn’t it be better for the government have been able to shut down the website than allow the teen to take his life?