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Recently, it came out in this article that the FBI has been monitoring entire network segments when targeting terror suspects. Now, I’m as concerned as anyone about “homeland security” and find the opportunities afforded the Law Enforcement and Intelligence communities by the ubiquity of information technology exciting, however, as is usually the case with new technology, it also has the possibility for immoral and dangerous use.

I find the continued action by various government bodies in reading the information flowing through an entire “segment’s” internet connection with the goal of catching one particular person disturbing and an improper use of information surveillance. As many other have no doubt posited, surveillance of a particular person with court and other legal oversight should be perfectly legal and used in any case where it could benefit an anti-terrorism or criminal investigation. However, this should only be used when it can target exactly the individual in question and does not include surveillance of innocent people’s privacy whose information privacy is not authorized by courts.

Basically, the government must be forced to err on the side of protecting the individual rights of innocent civilians rather than watching whole groups of people with the hope of finding incriminating evidence against an individual.