Surveillance Growth investigates the expansion of surveillance in the United States following the 9/11 attacks, examining its impact on privacy and civil liberties. It analyzes the legal foundations that enabled this growth, such as the Patriot Act, and explores the evolution of surveillance technologies like facial recognition and mass data collection. The book highlights the tension between national security imperatives and the protection of constitutional rights, particularly the Fourth Amendment. One intriguing insight is how the “reasonable expectation of privacy” standard has been challenged by new technologies. The book traces the history of surveillance law and examines the legal and political debates surrounding surveillance. It argues that the post-9/11 expansion has created a surveillance state that poses a threat to constitutional rights. For example, the NSA's mass surveillance programs are dissected, revealing their legal justifications and practical impacts. This book uniquely blends legal analysis with technological understanding and social critique, offering a fresh perspective for students, researchers, policymakers, and concerned citizens. Surveillance Growth begins by establishing the pre-9/11 landscape, then delves into the rapid post-attack expansion of surveillance powers. Subsequent chapters analyze specific surveillance programs and their legal justifications. The book concludes by examining ongoing debates and offering recommendations for reform, providing a comprehensive view of digital surveillance and its legal challenges.
