Essay

WARRANTLEES SURVEILLANCE: VIOLATING PRIVACY.


Warrantless surveillance is an illegal and unnecessary intrusion into people’s privacy which involves the collection of information that is assumedto be private, without the approval of a judge to start the activity. However, generally surveillance without a warrant might be considered legal in some occasions, especially if it takes place in apublic environment.


On the one hand, spying or watching involves the use of technological monitoring devices in order to intercept any kind of private and personal communication. Cameras,microphones, satellites, radars and others are devices placed everywhere monitoring streets, commercial, governmental and office buildings, highways, public and private transportation and virtually everyplace people use to attend. Besides, phone calls, text messages (by the use of cell phone chips and GPS) and all internet activities (e-mail accounts, websites, social networks and the like) are alsobeing watched all the time. These means of communication are used constantly to exchange a wide range of information, taking into account that people consider them to respect their right to privacy intheir daily communicative activities. In few words, the excessive use of these devises can make people’s private lives an open book available for authorities whenever they want.


On the other hand,it is widely known that governmental agencies exploit monitoring devices to control and obtain access to citizen’s private activities. FBI, CIA, military and police forces, in cooperation with sometelecommunication companies, are allowed to “spy” consumers’ personal communication when needed. These agencies justify their action by explaining that these are powerful tools to produce evidence soas to prosecute criminals and to prevent or deter certain forms of abuse, such as robberies, assaults, vandalism, corruption acts, threats and so on. Otherwise, if they have to wait for a permission...