With the advent of programs such as the Total Information Awareness program, technologies such as high-speed surveillance computers and biometrics software, and laws such as the Communications Assistance For Law Enforcement Act, governments now possess an unprecedented ability to monitor the activities of citizens. Surveillance allows governments and other agencies to maintain social control, recognize and monitor threats or any suspicious activity, and prevent and investigate criminal activities. Computer and network surveillance programs are widespread today and almost all Internet traffic can be monitored. It may or may not be legal and may or may not require authorization from a court or other independent government agencies. This monitoring is often carried out covertly and may be completed by governments, corporations, criminal organizations, or individuals. Main articles: Surveillance, Mass surveillance, and Global surveillanceĬomputer and network surveillance is the monitoring of computer activity and data stored locally on a computer, or data being transferred over computer networks such as the Internet.
