Is The Government Watching Online Activity Really Warranted?

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How Much Does Internet Privacy Matter?

Thesis: Is the government watching online activity really warranted?
In this current day and age, there’s a lot of disagreement about the level of privacy one has on the Internet. With the government able to see things such as your credit card records, employment records, and more, it can be tempting to dismiss the entire idea of allowing the government to “spy” on Americans. In Daniel J. Solove’s paper “Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide’” explores the issue of how the government uses the Internet to watch Americans and what they do while online. Solove states “In many instances, hardly anyone will see the information, and it won't be disclosed to the public.” So one must decide why it’s so important that the government watches online activity and whether or not it’s needed to the extreme that the government …show more content…

Protecting America is a lifelong job, not just for the government, but for America’s people as well. The Patriot Act that allows the government to monitor the Internet is not without flaws. It is still a violation of privacy, but it is one that many were willing to give up in those days following the 9/11 attacks. When America was at her most vulnerable, laws were established in the hopes of never having it happen again. Looking at the Patriot Act as unconstitutional is both right and wrong. The biggest problem with the Patriot Act is that it is not a black and white matter. It is gray in its simplest and truest form. Without it, who knows how many terrorists may have gotten inside our borders. Without the Patriot Act that allows the spying on millions of Americans by the government, who knows how many violent acts like 9/11 may have taken place. The argument about Internet privacy comes down to one point: How far are you willing to let the government go to keep you and your loved ones

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