Digital surveillance is increasingly becoming a double-edged watchdog. To some people, digital monitoring is derailing their privacy, however, to some, digital surveillance is apt in our digital times. Nevertheless, our continued use of the digital media is gradually becoming a source of tracking our every move. Our personal information is being trapped in the digital corridors as we leave behind many digital footprints that can be used to “unravel” us. From Chapter Seven, Athique posits that “In the context of SnS private individuals seeking to serve both audiences simultaneously must take great care of their self-presentation of their public figures” ( Pg,104). Our inevitable digital media consumption is undoubtedly enough to leave behind traces of our personal information. Imagine of the vast personal information we leave behind in the form of comments, posts, tweets, status update, likes, videos, memes, and pictures, all over on Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and  App use. All these can communicate our personal information such as our names, gender, date of birth, health status, employment, marital status, education history and even our           finances.

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            Our interactive era has become a perfect avenue for market processing, as market surveillance is increasingly becoming popular in the twenty-first century. However, market surveillance is causing uproar in public regarding the extent it is acceptable for the “consumer profile” to be collected and stored for future use by third parties.  Firms are understood under the concept of market surveillance to be storing the personal data of their customers to better understand them and address their needs. However, the collection and storage of such pertinent information are raising issues to do with privacy. My “consumer profile” can be collated and stored for future use by the third parties in the move to advance consumer choices through an innovative creation of consumer goods that address individual needs and what can be improved in promoting user product loyalty. However, the collection and storage of my “consumer profile” for future use by third parties should not breach my rights to privacy and security. According to Turkle, digital liberation allows people to become multidimensional beings, something more than physical selves (page 127). Nevertheless, my “consumer profile” should be protected to promote consumer confidentiality.

            The state surveillance is gradually turning out as a “disciplinary society” that seeks to instil discipline in the usage of digital media and punish acts that are perceived uncouth.  However, the increased discretion by the state in acting as a prison for its people by curtailing their internet freedom of expression and opinion, and privacy is a matter of concern. However, as much as the state surveillance may try to exercise its disciplinary power, the existence of an “electronic panopticon” is not sufficient enough to reduce the likelihood of crimes and misdemeanors. Nevertheless, the state surveillance to some extent is called for when internet users have to act within the preset laws governing internet use. Personally, I believe that having the knowledge of state surveillance at the back of your mind regarding something tracking your digital movement can deter crime and misdemeanor but equally curtail your freedom of expression and privacy. We should all understand that in as much as freedom is good but an unregulated freedom is dangerous as well. For that case, in as much state surveillance can be construed as a violation of our internet freedom and privacy but to some extent, it can be important in keeping “illegal “activities such as piracy and illegal downloading on the check.

Questions

1. Are you always aware of your digital footprints while using digital media?
2. Is state surveillance justified under the right to freedom of expression and privacy of its citizens?