Surveillance is observation and/or monitoring a person. Today many of our actions are observable, recorded, searchable and traceable. Close surveillance is much more intrusive than it has been in the past days of Arthasashtra. In India Central Monitoring System(CMS), DRDO NETRA, NSTGRID are some of the state surveillance system.
ETHICAL ISSUES INVOLVED
A) VIOLATION OF PRIVACY
Surveillance is basically based on this principle as it involves gathering watching and collecting a person's information without his/her consent. It is the most valued and natural right of human.
B)TRUST AND AUTONOMY
People start distrustinG the state. It encroaches upon the individual's bodily and emotional autonomy.
C)CAUSE OF SURVEILLANCE
The purpose of the surveillance is not mentioned always. It may have Unethical usage associated with it.
D) AUTHORITY
State security can carry forward the surveillance for the good of the people.. But surveillance by private agencies for their gain is out rightly Unethical.
E) Unconstrained collection of electronic intelligence is destroying civil liberties and creating the condition for tyranny.
VIEWS ON ITS PRACTICE
MEANS
It should not be harmful, should not encroach the personal boundary without permission,should be trustworthy and result should be valid.
THE DATA COLLECTION
Individual should be aware and give their consents. There should be public discussion in decision making process. It must be ensured that data will be protected.
USES
The collected data should be used with broader community purpose, cost effectively, in a legitimised and profitable way.
CONCLUSION:state surveillance is inevitable in the present scenario for national security. But it should also maintain it's ethics.
