Surveillance empowers authorities to expand the range of their powers, leading to further rights violations (Greenwald 14). Because the state does not face backlash or repercussions, the government can take advantage of this passivity and expand their territorial powers. The expansion of state power only happens when the public does not take an active stance in having a say about the NSA, especially since the secretive FISA courts passed legislation about the NSA long before the public knew. People under the control of surveillance avoid certain political views and beliefs which is yet another mechanism of governmental control. The NSA diminishes the citizens’ voice by not allowing them to convey their opinions on these matters. Without this freedom, any form of political activism or even challenging state power comes at a threat because the government knows who someone is and what their intention is. Historically, when the President has expanded its power in office, the next President either maintains that power or continues to widen it; there is never a diminishing of power. The Constitution was written to ensure the government has enough power to protect people, but it was also made to prevent government tyranny. If the U.S government can still have public support after continued circumvention of the law, they can capitalize on further violations of civil liberties and bring forth an anti- democratic government. The NSA remaining in place is a precursor to the slippery slope of governmental rights abuses that will
Surveillance empowers authorities to expand the range of their powers, leading to further rights violations (Greenwald 14). Because the state does not face backlash or repercussions, the government can take advantage of this passivity and expand their territorial powers. The expansion of state power only happens when the public does not take an active stance in having a say about the NSA, especially since the secretive FISA courts passed legislation about the NSA long before the public knew. People under the control of surveillance avoid certain political views and beliefs which is yet another mechanism of governmental control. The NSA diminishes the citizens’ voice by not allowing them to convey their opinions on these matters. Without this freedom, any form of political activism or even challenging state power comes at a threat because the government knows who someone is and what their intention is. Historically, when the President has expanded its power in office, the next President either maintains that power or continues to widen it; there is never a diminishing of power. The Constitution was written to ensure the government has enough power to protect people, but it was also made to prevent government tyranny. If the U.S government can still have public support after continued circumvention of the law, they can capitalize on further violations of civil liberties and bring forth an anti- democratic government. The NSA remaining in place is a precursor to the slippery slope of governmental rights abuses that will