A lot of people are worried about the possibility of government surveillance. Almost half of the world’s population, if not more, is in danger of being monitored by government agencies. Many reports support this. In a Pew Research Center survey, 71% of American adults expressed concerns about how the government uses the information they have collected on them. It is important to pay attention to one’s privacy because of the tendency of certain governmental agencies to have technical options to track different digital footprints.
What is government surveillance?
Government surveillance refers to the practice of state agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States or GCHQ in the United Kingdom monitoring, recording, and sifting through data about peoples’ activities. This might include intercepting and storing communications (email, phone calls, text messages), using CCTV networks, and accessing personal data from smartphones, computers and online forums. The apparent aim of this is to collect information for reasons of national security, though the scope and purpose of data mining might vary greatly.
This monitoring goes further than tapping communications. It also includes data-crunching software that sifts through massive amounts of data for patterns that are associated with illegal or threatening activities. The technology is not limited to interception but also includes analytical tools that can suggest links and predict behaviors. Predictive analytics are key to anticipating potential threats.
Physical observation and tracking people are still used in many places even without the benefit of digital data compilation. Field agents still rely on stakeouts and following suspects. Though such approaches are a lot more intrusive than digital surveillance, they still add pieces to the puzzle.
Why does the government spy on us?
Does the government spy on us? States claim that they conduct this surveillance for a number of reasons including the maintenance of public safety and national security. The generalized justifications that underpin them include the following:
Prevent crime and terrorism
In monitoring communications and analyzing data, governments hope to prevent crime before it happens. They record volumes of data and use complicated analytical algorithms to find patterns that could be indicative of criminal intent. If these programs are effective, hundreds or thousands of lives could be saved by forestalling crimes.
Control behavior and censorship
Governments also use this surveillance to regulate online behavior. Censoring, managing political narratives, and containing dissent are some of the goals pursued by governments that want to keep a watchful eye on what individuals do online. The internet has made it easier to keep records of individuals’ actions and communications. Intercepting and monitoring such communications makes it easier to weed out subversive content that questions control of the regime or otherwise gets out of hand. Authoritarian governments use online surveillance to throttle political opposition and dissent.
National security
National security is one of the prominent justifications for such surveillance programs to keep an eye on spies and foreign infiltration activities aimed at destabilizing the state. Governments wish to maintain their national interests, especially those of a sensitive nature, that require attention.
Information gathering
Collecting data on citizens allows governments to make informed decisions about public policy, allocation of resources and formulation of national security strategies. Political, economic, or social information helps in developing more all-embracing policy measures or strategic approaches. Thanks to the data collected through different channels, legislative measures are now more precise and tailored to specific issues.
What can the government learn about me?
Given the increasing capacity of the government to collect information, privacy has become an important concern. The amount of data that is available for use means that it is relatively easy to combine bits of information to create detailed profiles on nearly any person. Governments collect information in different forms from multiple sources, which gives them the ability to create complex profiles of their citizens.
Communication partners
By intercepting your phone calls, texts and emails, they can find out who you regularly communicate with, and so build up a map of your social and professional networks, which in turn give clues into contacts they might investigate for criminal or otherwise unwanted conduct.
Communication timestamps
Metadata about who you call or message and when can also reveal aspects of your daily routines, habits and patterns. The analysis of this information can lead to conclusions about your lifestyle and schedules, all without needing to listen to your actual conversations.
Location data
GPS tracking of your movements and records of your position from other devices, such as your mobile, can also show where you were at any particular time. These records create a history of your movements and reveal where you have been and when. They can corroborate other information.
Call durations
The duration of calls and frequency of communication can give clues to your network of relationships and friends. Longer calls or increased frequency might get drilled down even more because, coupled with other behavioral data points that signal something amiss, they can provide valuable insights into your dealings.
Email subjects
Your email subjects alone are revealing, even if they are never read. They offer clues into what you are up to and interested in, independent of any actual email content, and can be used to infer things about what you care about overall.
Browsing history
Logs from ISPs tracking the sites you visit will reveal your interests and political views because, by knowing the types of sites that someone visits, we know plenty about that person. The information on browsing sites, especially the types of sites, can be crucial for profiling purposes as it reveals the data and sites you consume. It’s a good starting point for understanding your mindset.
How do governments spy on us?
There are many ways in which governments can monitor their citizens. They become more sophisticated every day. With the help of technology and smart policies, governments can create an all-encompassing surveillance system to track and analyze every detail.
Social media monitoring
They use AI to take advantage of data from Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram to trace users’ relationships, interpret content meaning and understand their locations. There has been surveillance on social media to gather intelligence about public opinion and interests, as well as detect threats that could negatively influence public welfare. The volume of the data on social media is immense, which helps in tracking trends and examining the public’s opinions.
CCTV and facial recognition
Cameras with supporting advanced recognition software now help officials track individuals in various public spaces, especially in urban areas. Such technology supports real-time monitoring and offline tracking of events and activities. Besides, CCTV cameras have now become an ever-present feature of most public places, providing yet another surveillance solution for the tracking of individual movements in public spaces.
Accessing data from tech giants
Governments can ask Google or Amazon for data, even though there are policies in place that protect user info. Tech companies are often compelled to release a great deal of data to authorities under legal warrants or subpoenas, despite efforts to safeguard user privacy. Everything is already digital and tech companies maintain a huge amount of data on all of us.
Data from ISPs
Internet service providers (ISPs) collect massive amounts of data on their users, which they will, in most instances, hand over to their respective governments – data such as browsing history, download histories, and logs of online communications. The ISPs are a key part of the internet’s infrastructure, and so ISPs would be a major focal point for collection.
Spyware and malware
High-level spyware, such as Pegasus, can install itself on a phone to put certain individuals under surveillance. Smart TVs can become listening devices. Malware on a device could access the built-in camera or microphone without the user’s knowledge. The slick appearance of such tools makes them a lethal addition to the state surveillance arsenal.
Tips to avoid government surveillance
That state of absolute privacy is unlikely to ever be achievable, of course, but there are steps you can take to mitigate your risks from government snooping. A combination of the steps above can help limit your digital footprint and redouble your security.
Update your antivirus software
Make sure that any antivirus program is always up to date. They protect you against both malware and spyware, and updates only reinforce that protection. They keep it current with all the latest threats so that you are better protected against whatever dangers might try to worm their way into your computer. An antivirus software fights back by finding and eradicating known threats, and proactively learning how to identify new ones.
Use strong, unique passwords
Make your passwords complex, and change them often. If you find it difficult to remember more than a handful of passwords, consider using a password manager. Strong passwords can protect against brute-force attacks and break-ins.
Encrypt web communications
Encrypt your web communications (the little green padlock and https:// in the URL). HTTPS encryption scrambles your payload in transit. Encryption reveals your data to unauthorized users in an unreadable format.
Use a VPN
Virtual Private Networks can also protect you while browsing on public WiFi – rerouting all of your online data to safe tunnels that no one else can see through, thereby masking your IP address and making you anonymous online. VPNs work virtually by channeling your data through secure servers to bypass your ISP and other third parties that track your online activities.
Opt for private browsing sessions
If you want to keep your surfing as private as possible, you should use private browsing modes. These modes prevent your computer from logging browsing history, cookies, your cache, or other temporary files. Private browsing does not save any information about your browsing activities.
Choose services with end-to-end encryption
Choose private-focused sites such as SpiderOak for file storage or DuckDuckGo for search engines, for example, to ensure that your information is encrypted while it’s in transit and in storage. A truly secure service should use end-to-end encryption, where only the two communicating users can read the messages, with no intermediary having access to any of the data.
Avoid clickbait
Clicking on a fraudulent link can result in your systems being hacked by malware or phishing attacks. Be very careful and check all links before you click, as cybercriminals can use tempting headlines to trick users into clicking. Always check links and use only verified sources.
Stay cyber-safe!
Government surveillance is a fact of life on the modern internet. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself. WOT offers a range of tools that make your browsing safer and give you greater privacy. This browser extension delivers timely alerts if you try to visit a site that could be risky and will even block it for you if necessary. You can browse in confidence, knowing WOT is watching your back. Be safe and informed, and you can minimize your chances of falling victim to unauthorized surveillance.
FAQs
How do I know if the government is watching me?
It might be tricky to ascertain whether your government is actually targeting you, but there are some things to look out for. Unusual events, such as repeated technical problems with your devices, unusual requests from the government or talk from people who know you about odd behaviors on your part, or others, might signal you are being monitored, along with unusual events involving people you know, or that you might be an object of surveillance. Repeated odd or unexplained ‘glitches’ or events involving your devices might also alert you to the possibility that you are being monitored. If you suspect you are being monitored, speak to an attorney.
What to do if the government is watching me?
If you think your government is spying on you, the first thing you need to do is strengthen your cybersecurity: use encrypted channels for communication, regularly use operating system updates and patches, and maybe consult a lawyer (they don’t always have to be expensive – Google ‘legal clinic near me’). And, especially, make sure you are not easily accessible and highly prone to digital attacks. Tools like WOT can help you identify potentially unsafe sites and links in real time.
Does the government monitor your internet activity?
Sure they can. The government can learn quite a bit about your internet activity, through agreements with ISPs and, at least for the American NSA, data requests directly to the big tech companies. They can use this to identify your internet habits and communications with others. In the hands of a motivated data analyst, you can be identified through your online activity. You can lessen the risk of some of it by keeping your wits about you and taking advantage of the privacy tools that are available.
Why am I being watched by the government?
If you match certain criteria that merit the attention of the security services – potentially based on your suspicious behavior or simply because your friends are under investigation – then even ordinary activities could draw a surveillance response if they fit within a pattern of interest. Making a lot of overseas phone calls or large financial transactions could draw attention. Be careful about your digital hygiene and pay attention to your online activity.
Can the government spy on my smartphone?
Yes, the government can get at your smartphone’s data through numerous means – by way of warrants, with cooperation from tech companies, with powerful spyware that can be loaded remotely onto your phone and control it or extract data. There’s a lot of information stored on your phone that apps and services can report on your behalf. As with your PC, keep your phone’s software updated and use security tools to guard against unauthorized access.