Surveillance...

When I think of the word surveillance, images of a bunch of overweight cops eating donuts in a almost obviously disguised police van outside a shady apartment block spring to mind. Or maybe some of the hi-tech gadgets used by James Bond throughout one of his many epic adventures. In reality its likely that all the steps taken to getting to this page where I can publish a post on my blog can be traced back by someone. The only way I can stop this virtual stalking is by disowning digital communication, which in these times is highly unlikely of anyone hoping to maintain a normal social and working life actually doing.

I think surveillance is a neccessary evil when it comes to the internet. It can go to far and be used inapproriately by individuals and even your own work. I remember a situation when I worked as a telemarket in Wellington shortly after leaving school. One of the team leaders found out a telemarketer was using the internet for her own personal use, buying things off trade me and what not, and then began listening to her personal phone calls she made during breaks and such because they were all recorded as we were telemarketers. I thought that both individuals were in the wrong. The employee shouldnt have been using the internet and phone for her own personal use at the expense of the company but I didn't believe it gave the team leader the right to listen to her personal phone conversations. Though there might be these negatives when it comes to surveillance, I believe they are small in comparison to the positives that can come from it. Recently I saw a COPS programme where detectives had been surveillancing (not sure if its word) possible pedophiles on chat sites, posing as naive young teens and even younger children. On one occasion they managed to catch two pedophiles at once arranging for them to meet the 'child' at the same location. To me having younger sisters, a little brother and a young nephew this is a very big positive that makes surveillance worthwhile.