We are in the midst of another wave of widespread government surveillance of individuals engaged in lawful activities who are not suspected of criminal wrongdoing. The U.S. government has created comprehensive information-sharing networks in an effort to combat terrorism. Information about innocent individuals gathered in this suspicion-less surveillance is added to those networks.
This has happened before, and was curtailed only when citizens brought the government’s actions to the light of day and challenged this “Big Brother” approach as incompatible with the freedoms protected by our Constitution.
Surveillance without suspicion, often done in the name of security, does not make us safer. It intrudes on our privacy and leads to racial, religious, political and ethnic profiling.
Is this really happening in Washington state?
Sadly, yes. Public records and reports from individuals have confirmed the existence of extensive surveillance and information sharing between local, state and federal law enforcement – and even military officials – regarding the activities of individuals and groups right here in Washington state.
Isn’t surveillance part of legitimate law enforcement?
Effective law enforcement often requires undercover work, information gathering and surveillance of suspected criminals. Such surveillance should be based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity – and ended when that suspicion is dispelled.
However, when conducted without suspicion of criminal activity, especially when targeted at unpopular political groups, or when intended to profile religious, ethnic or racial minorities, it violates the right to be free of unwarranted government intrusion and to exercise free speech, association, and practice one’s religion. The harm to those under surveillance without suspicion is made worse when the information collected about them and their activities is shared by local, state and federal law enforcement, military and security agencies and stored in multiple databases, just in case it might ever become useful.
In addition to chilling speech, surveillance without suspicion actually makes law enforcement less effective. When authorities are swamped with mountains of irrelevant and inaccurate information, their ability to properly analyze data is compromised. Ultimately, these practices make us less safe.
