power
We live in a world where our phones know more about us than most of our friends do. In this world, the line between convenience and control is blurring fast. And while many people shrug it“ off-“I’ve got nothing to” hide”-the truth is, the political issue of government surveillance and data privacy isn’t just about secrets. It’s about power.
Governments say they need access to our data to protect us. And sure, national security is important. No one wants bombs going off or cyberattacks shutting down hospitals. But how far is too far? After 9/11, countries like the U.S. passed laws like the PATRIOT Act, which gave intelligence agencies the right to monitor phone calls, emails, and search histories, sometimes without even telling the person being watched. That’s not just a breach of privacy; that’s a fundamental shift in how democracy works.
Most of this surveillance isn’t transparent. It’s hidden behind vague language, classified programs, and courtrooms we’re not allowed into. And once that kind of power is handed over, it rarely gets taken back. Even in democratic countries, surveillance is creeping deeper into everyday life: facial recognition at protests, tracking people during pandemics, and using AI to predict crimes before they happen. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s real. And it’s happening now.
At the core of this issue is a question: do we want to live in a society where the government knows everything about us? Where our data is stored, analysed, and possibly used against us, not because we’ve done anything wrong, but because one day we might? The answer should be no. Privacy isn’t a luxury; it’s a right. And if we don’t fight for it, we’ll lose it before we even realise it’s gone.
By: Lakshita Leekha
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