The contradiction between powers of the government
The contradiction between powers of the government to ensure security to its citizens and borders, and the fundamental rights to privacy, has continuously led to confusion in America. Balancing the two has needs to consider actions to relieve the tension between the security and privacy of the citizens. Information Technology is a key item in the current world of communication. It is through IT that terror can be orchestrated, and through the same that Americans use to communicate with one another. The security agencies should be open to the Americans that they will track people believed to be dangerous for security as part of criminal investigations but will not infringe on the other American’s right to privacy. Through this, the Americans will understand that the government violates the privacy of the crime suspects and not everyone.
It is clear in the constitution that there are potential conflicts between privacy and national security. The right to privacy is found in the fourth amendment of the United States’ constitution. The law gives Americans the right to be secure and against unreasonable searches and seizures. On the other side, the security of the Americans is guarded by the Patriot Act, which gives more power to surveillance agencies in protecting the Americans. The act provides room for record searches, secret searches without the knowledge of the person, and the trap and trace searches that track information communications. This shows that the constitution has the two laws parallel, but the security of the nation becomes paramount.
The Americans should only expect minimal privacy due to the current state of information technology whereby in almost every bit of transaction and communication, personal information is given out. Basic privacy by the organizations entrusted with the citizens’ information is what Americans should expect. The security organs have the right to access private information to secure the person and the country at large hence leaving very small breathing space for the right to privacy.