Federal Law Allowing Arrest for People Supporting Terrorism on Media
It would be much better to support a federal law allowing enforcement of arresting individuals expressing support for violent terrorism on social media. Why? Because these individuals play a huge part in the continuation of illegal terror groups, planting destructive ideas in their minds and people around them. For instance, a person spreading and sharing information about a specific group wants to instill fear to the viewers and readers, which is the primary goal of the terrorists. It is a form of mass destruction weapon, reaching a considerable population, creating the panic, tense environment, having an apocalyptic mindset on the public, and creating a state of emergency to the public is the goal they want to achieve. A terrorist is a well-informed person, who knows that if he or she shares information through social media, then the data gets support say from a prominent politician, it will show that the individual has achieved the goal. If the state can create a policy under the federal law to allow him or her to be brought to questioning, their motives for supporting illegal groups. The intelligence community could spy on these individuals, their media activities, their friends, and any links that could point out a possible threat to the state. The law would also allow for investigations on individual’s activities on social media and allow the media companies to give out personal data if required to do so by the courts to assist in investigations and combat terrorism in the country.
Arguments For, and Against Monitoring Media Companies
The intelligence community is fighting daily in managing and countering terrorism in the country through several techniques and means, which includes monitoring social media users on Twitter, Instagram, and others. These companies have the right and responsibility of reporting any suspicious activity linked to terrorism and providing necessary information to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. Social media surveillance is crucial in knowing the next step terrorists are planning to execute, the possible target, time, and exact location for the attacks. Through scanning social media phrases, keywords, codes, and various transactions on social media help security forces to join the dots and interpret the likelihood of threats at hand. Securing the location of a potential attack is enhanced through media monitoring and mining of information from terrorist groups and individuals promoting terrorism. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
On the other hand, law enforcement officers could misuse data found on social media platforms, and individuals could be falsely charged with a crime. A victim whose account has been hacked by a third party would fall to police harassment from the activity in her or his social account. The privacy policies of the companies would have been breached as they assure users that their data is safe with them. When an individual discovers that the police are monitoring him, it will make them afraid and lose trust in the media companies that promised to keep his data safe. No one wants their information shared with other people, especially cops or other agencies in the law enforcement unit, because it is psychological torture. Generally, the Constitution needs to explain the right policies for this kind of surveillance, considering and placing the users’ needs as a priority. These agencies need to emphasize more on the users’ privacy, even if they are monitoring their activities on social media.
A Friend Helping Another One
If Jaylen, an American citizen, drives a friend to the airport so that the friend can travel to Syria to join the Islamic State in the Middle East, it will be considered a crime because of helping and being part of the plans of terrorism. Jaylen will be regarded as an ISIS sympathizer, promoting their activities within the state, by driving his friend to the airport. He knows that ISIS is a terrorist group and that they kill people who are against their religious beliefs. According to the law enforcement unit, Jaylen is an individual who is a threat to the state and is intending to harm the US plus its citizens. It is right to intervene and even restrict Jaylen’s friend from traveling to Syria because he does not know what the future will be like in a foreign country full of terrorist activity. And, through counseling, the friend will get help, and police officers will know what the reason for him wanting to join ISIS was. Preventing such issues from happening, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working in connection with other intelligence agencies in identifying similar activities where American citizens assist, collaborate, and engage in terrorist activities with or without knowingly. Security of the state is essential, and any kind of connection to terrorism has to be countered appropriately by law enforcement agencies.