How Effective Are Government Surveillance Programs?
As countries curb freedom of speech protections and expand surveillance programs, are we any safer?
While government spying programs are nothing new, the world has seen a major expansion of surveillance in the years since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
As explained in the video below, the post-9/11 age has been defined by fear of more terrorist attacks. This fear has driven governments to broaden their surveillance programs and crack down on freedom of expression.
Just last month, the FBI announced that it was able to successfully break into an iPhone used by one of the assailants in the San Bernardino attack. Here, Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell makes the case that news stories like that should be very concerning to all people who value living in a free society.
Regardless of what you think of the FBI unlocking an iPhone used by a terrorist, the long-term implications of such developments have very serious consequences.
Learn more about the history of America's spy program, which goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War.