4 ms·

I don't really get why governments would want to do most of this, it's mostly just a waste of money if they don't plan to establish a totalitarian regime. I me

• goshakkk 13y ago
  Don't you get it? The government tries to prevent terrorism! Public fear of terrorism is what's being used to take away rights and liberties, especially in post-9/11 America.
• belorn 13y ago
  Mostly political power. Terrorism/military/police arguments is the short term answer, but the reason so much effort is put in is because politically, surveillance is a very valuable. The two primary uses of raw surveillance data (to my knowledge) is to trade it with other nations, and to give political leaders information about their citizens in order to stay in power. For trading, he who has most data can get most in exchange for it. Sometimes, it's details about on-going deals between companies, where trading information might mean receiving information so one's national companies get a edge over foreign ones. Diplomats, airplane manufacturers, car manufacturers, oil companies are historical beneficiaries of information acquired by the NSA. But leaders of nations also want information about their citizens. They need to identify other politically important people, influential groups, or where campaign money should (or not) be invested so that they get elected next election. With surveillance data, you can direct police forces to crack down on people or groups who would otherwise have an effect on election day.