Smart Surveillance

Simmons takes a broad look at the effect of new technologies and privacy, arguing that advances in technology can enhance our privacy and our security at the same time. This book will appeal to academics and students in the field of law, criminology, and political science, and will be of interest to policymakers, judges, lawyers, and lawmakers.

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Over the last decade, law enforcement agencies have engaged in increasingly intrusive surveillance methods, from location tracking on cell phones to reading metadata off of e-mails. As a result, many believe we are heading towards an omniscient surveillance state and irrevocable damage to our privacy rights. In Smart Surveillance, Ric Simmons challenges this conventional wisdom by taking a broader look at the effect of new technologies and privacy, arguing that advances in technology can enhance our privacy and our security at the same time. Rather than focusing exclusively on the rise of invasive surveillance technologies, Simmons proposes a fundamentally new method of evaluating government searches - based on quantification, transparency, and efficiency - resulting in a legal regime that can adapt as technology and society change.