Recently in class we discussed the issue of privacy. Do we have a right to privacy or is it something we must be willing to forfeit for the good of the people? In class we discussed this issue mostly in the terms of the common person versus "big brother". However, what if the common person took the role of "big brother"? Would we still feel so alienated at the idea of surveillance if it was our friends and neighbors doing so?
In my research on this topic, I came across many websites for each side of the privacy issue. Most websites took the common person's side or the government's side. I think that there is another side, why can't the government and the common man partner. Somewhat like a grand scale neighborhood watch? I do see the downside here, that putting the responsibility into the hands of perhaps unwilling people leaves links missing in your "neighborhood watch" chain. But perhaps every citizen's participation isn't necessary for this idea to flourish.
Now, I realize my thoughts for a global community watch are pie in the sky ideas. I have obviously not put much thought into this as I have no idea in what way this could be enacted. However, with the technology at our fingertips today it would not be hard. Think of all the crimes that have been caught on tape by the average citizen, we have seen it everywhere from Seinfeld to YouTube. Perhaps if we took this role as a small scale vigilante a bit more seriously we could drastically reduce the incidence of crime while still retaining some of our privacy.
While my idea clearly has many holes, while researching this idea I did find something similair. President Obama recently announced that he is enacting this type of idea in the cyber world. To decrease cyber terrorism he is putting the responsibility in the hands of the people. He is relying on the common man's help to watch for cyber terrorists. Whether or not this plan or a global crime watch plan would work would solely depend on the dedication and the honesty of the people and as of now it is impossible to say if the people would support this- but hey its only an idea right?
To read more about Obama's Plan Check this out: http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/714308
I agree this does sound like it would work well. If people were responsible enough not to misuse the system. I can see people using it to harass their enemies and neighbors taking much needed time away from serious issues.
ReplyDeleteI think that this sounds pretty cool. with how many people are on the internet it should be pretty effective. I think that there may be a problem with the fact that the user may think it won't happen to them.
ReplyDeleteSo, this isn't a bad idea, but what's the incentive for people to turn in a crime they are seeing? What if the person seeing the crime committed doesn't morally agree with that crime being against the law and they let it just slide? This is only an example of the million things that could go wrong with a proposed "neighborhood watch". I think this will take years to develop, but it is not impossible.
ReplyDeleteThe invention of the internet and many other new technologies, has brought the issue of privacy to new levels. Now near everything you do has the potential of being recorded. There are cameras around every corner, as well as cookies implanted in many websites. I like the idea that the author stated, but like Jimmy said there are many practicality problems with it. The main one being the sheer size of the internet makes it near impossible for all illegal activities to be spotted. However, I think it is everyone's civic duty to cut down on crime, ciber or traditional.
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