A discussion of the pros and cons of
surveillance in the United States, looking at whether more surveillance for protection
against terrorism outweighs intrusion of one's privacy. The
terrorist attacks on 9/11 saw an increase in
surveillance and new laws passed concerning wire-tapping. The three characteristics of surveillance technology used to describe its various aspects, amplification, re-utilization, and sublimation are examined. The author investigates whether surveillance is ethical and if it could really have prevented past or prevent future terrorist attacks.