Privacy and surveillance
How much should the state watch?
Modern technology lets governments gather far more information than ever before. Supporters of broad surveillance say that monitoring phones, messages and public spaces helps find terrorists and serious criminals before they strike, and that people with nothing to hide have little to fear. Opponents say privacy is a basic freedom, that data collected for one purpose tends to be used for others, and that private messaging that even the state cannot read is essential for safety and free speech.
On the 12 Axes this issue moves the security axis. Accepting monitoring for the sake of safety points toward the Order pole. Defending encrypted messaging and minimal data collection points toward the Liberty pole. The issue cuts across the left and right divide. Civil libertarians on both sides worry about state power, while many conservatives and many on the left back strong security measures after a major attack. There is also a split about who holds the data, since some people trust the state but not large companies, and others the opposite. Technology and law keep changing, so the balance is renegotiated all the time.
What each side argues
Safety first
- Supporters of monitoring argue that surveillance can stop attacks and catch serious criminals before they cause harm.
- Supporters say that law-abiding people have little to fear from targeted, lawful oversight.
- Supporters believe governments need access to communications to do their job of protecting citizens.
Privacy first
- Opponents argue that privacy is a basic right, and that mass surveillance treats everyone as a suspect.
- Opponents say secure encryption protects ordinary people, journalists and businesses from criminals and hostile states.
- Opponents worry that data collected today can be misused or leaked, and that powers granted in a crisis rarely go away.
3 statements on privacy and surveillance
- Government monitoring of phone and internet activity is acceptable if it helps prevent terrorism.Agreeing moves you toward Order
- Everyone should have access to private messaging that even the government cannot read.Agreeing moves you toward Liberty
- The government should collect as little personal data about citizens as possible.Agreeing moves you toward Liberty
What politicians have said and done
Ricardo NunesIn 2023 he said the city had added 1,000 municipal guards and would run 20,000 cameras, 14,000 with artificial intelligence, around the Cracolândia and elsewhere.Source: jovempan.com.br
Sergio MoroProposed integrated electronic surveillance centres using public and private cameras, artificial intelligence and facial recognition, and a maximum-security state prison.Source: cnnbrasil.com.br
At each end of Security
People whose overall profile leans furthest each way on the axis this issue moves most. A lean on the axis is not a stance on this exact issue.
More security issues
Privacy and surveillance: questions
What is mass surveillance?
Mass surveillance is the broad monitoring of large groups of people, such as collecting phone records or internet activity, instead of targeting named suspects. Supporters say it helps detect threats. Critics say it intrudes on everyone's privacy and can be abused.
What is end-to-end encryption?
End-to-end encryption scrambles messages so that only the sender and the receiver can read them, not the service provider or the government. Supporters say it protects privacy and security. Governments sometimes argue it makes it harder to investigate crime and terrorism.
Is surveillance a left or right wing issue?
It does not follow one side. Civil libertarians on the left and right oppose broad monitoring, while security-minded voters on both sides support it. On the 12 Axes it is measured on the security axis, between Liberty and Order.