Computer and network surveillance

This article is about monitoring of computer and network activity. For information on methods of preventing unauthorized access to computer data, see computer security.
Main articles: Surveillance, Mass surveillance, and Global surveillance

Computer 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. This monitoring is often carried out covertly and may be completed by governments, corporations, criminal organizations, or individuals. It may or may not be legal and may or may not require authorization from a court or other independent government agencies. Computer and network surveillance programs are widespread today and almost all Internet traffic can be monitored.[1]

Surveillance allows governments and other agencies to maintain social control, recognize and monitor threats or any suspicious or abnormal activity,[2] and prevent and investigate criminal activities. 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.[3]

Many civil rights and privacy groups, such as Reporters Without Borders, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union, have expressed concern that increasing surveillance of citizens will result in a mass surveillance society, with limited political and/or personal freedoms. Such fear has led to numerous lawsuits such as Hepting v. AT&T.[3][4] The hacktivist group Anonymous has hacked into government websites in protest of what it considers "draconian surveillance".[5][6]

  1. ^ Anne Broache. "FBI wants widespread monitoring of 'illegal' Internet activity". CNET. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. ^ Jeske, Daniel R.; Stevens, Nathaniel T.; Tartakovsky, Alexander G.; Wilson, James D. (2018-04-17). "Statistical methods for network surveillance". Applied Stochastic Models in Business and Industry. 34 (4): 425–445. doi:10.1002/asmb.2326. ISSN 1524-1904.
  3. ^ a b "Is the U.S. Turning Into a Surveillance Society?". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  4. ^ "Bigger Monster, Weaker Chains: The Growth of an American Surveillance Society" (PDF). American Civil Liberties Union. January 15, 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "Anonymous hacks UK government sites over 'draconian surveillance' ", Emil Protalinski, ZDNet, 7 April 2012, retrieved 12 March 2013
  6. ^ Hacktivists in the frontline battle for the internet retrieved 17 June 2012