9/11 Surveillance Technology

The tragic events of September 11th, 2001 showed the vulnerabilities of this country as a whole, reflecting the lack of attention this nation gave to terrorism. Following September 11th, it was clear that drastic preventative measures needed to be taken in order to avoid reoccurrence of a destructive and deadly act of terrorism (Simon, 2009). As a response to the attacks, The Patriot Act was passed in October of 2001 in order to give federal agencies a substantial increase in power in accessing, monitoring, and examining records and citizens who have been identified as, or could potentially be, risks to this country. This act also allowed federal agents to single out and watch potential individuals labeled as terrorists without evidence linking them to an actual terrorist organization, as well as allowing for an increase in wiretapping phones of potential suspects (Banks, 2010).

The horrific events of September 11, 2001, profoundly altered the way law enforcement agencies conducted business. The creation of new agencies arose, strategies, procedures, and training for law enforcement was necessary to prepare and combat terrorism. In this paper, I will analyze the before and after effects, the events of 9/11 caused in law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and what improvements I feel are needed to keep our nation safe from terrorism.

Both National Security and individual privacy were massively affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In a matter of minutes, four airplanes were

The government is always watching to ensure safety of their country, including everything and everyone in it. Camera surveillance has become an accepted and almost expected addition to modern safety and crime prevention (“Where” para 1). Many people willingly give authorization to companies like Google and Facebook to make billions selling their personal preferences, interests, and data. Canada participates with the United States and other countries in monitoring national and even global communications (“Where” para 2). Many question the usefulness of this kind of surveillance (Hier, Let, and Walby 1).However, surveillance, used non-discriminatorily, is, arguably, the key technology to preventing terrorist plots (Eijkman 1). Government

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, have greatly changed security policies in the United States. September 11, 2001, is an infamous day that has changed the United States in numerous aspects. After this infamous day, many people live with the fear of experiencing another major attack. After the attacks the national Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was created. One task given to the 9/11 Commission was to provide recommendations designed to prevent future attacks. In order to prevent another attack the power of security in the United States was increased. The effects of this increase in security can be seen when going through airport, going to a ball game, or even just

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011 prompted the world to reevaluate and drastically modify airport and airline security. “Four targets had been chosen, all iconic American buildings that would send a clear message of the depth of their hatred for the United States. All four planes crashed, killing all on board—terrorists, crew members, and passengers, along with hundreds who were killed inside the structures, on the ground, and the men and women who ran into collapsing buildings in an effort to try and save others” (Smutz 1). As Jason Villemez said “the decade after the 9/11 attacks reshaped many facets of life in America” (Villemez 1). Before the attacks, people did not think that large

One key act was the Patriot Act that gave national security investigators provisions to track leads and dismantle plots before they occur. The Patriot act relaxed restrictions of information sharing between enforcement and intelligence officers, roving wiretaps, subpoena power for e-mail records, and other provisions set forth by this Act. The improved cooperation between the federal, state, and local authorities forming Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF), where communication is the key from the lowest level to the highest level to get suspects off the street. Terrorist travel has been really watched with the security at the airport or even on the plane has been upgraded with more air marshals and the multiple security checks at the

Up until this point, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, applied to surveillance for domestic threats (Surveillance). However, this act now “stipulated that government officials have the authority to ‘intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to terrorism, computer fraud, abuse offenses’” (Ambrose and Brinkley, 498). For the first time the “CIA could spy on American citizens within the U.S. borders” (Ambrose and Brinkley, 498), and for the first time, Americans were forced to trade their liberty for some sense of

Up until this point, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, applied to surveillance for domestic threats (Surveillance). However, this act now “stipulated that government officials have the authority to ‘intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to terrorism, computer fraud, abuse offenses’” (Ambrose and Brinkley, 498). For the first time the “CIA could spy on American citizens within the U.S. borders” (Ambrose and Brinkley, 498), and for the first time, Americans were forced to trade their liberty for some sense of

In the nineteenth century, municipal and state governments shouldered the responsibility of law enforcement. Another facts is that the Special Agents force also aided border guards, investigating smuggling cases and immigration violations. Encyclopedia says “Despite the changing future of the structure of the United States intelligence community, the FBI will undoubtedly play a central role”. The FBI's focus on the prevention of terrorism failed to thwart the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The FBI has many things that people do not

Citizens feeling protected in their own nation is a crucial factor for the development and advancement of that nation. The United States’ government has been able to provide this service for a small tax and for the most part it is money well spent. Due to events leading up to the terrifying attacks on September 11, 2001 and following these attacks, the Unites States’ government has begun enacting certain laws and regulations that ensure the safety of its citizens. From the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978 to the most recent National Security Agency scandal, the government has attempted and for the most part succeeded in keeping domestic safety under control. Making sure that the balance between

The 9/11 attacks has changed how law enforcement response to terrorist attacks. Prior to 9/11 law enforcement were a bunch of entities that acted independently of each other. One of the major things that were affected during 9/11 was the communication and this hit to our communication infrastructure crippling how law enforcement, EMS and FDNY passed information. This attack changed how law enforcement responded to any terrorist attacks. After the terrorist attack law enforcement created a domestic counterterrorism unit to handle moments of disaster and terrorist attacks. These units worked in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies; the sharing of information is all funneled into one system called the Nationwide Suspicious Activity

September 11, 2001 marked the most horrific day in history for United States of America. The events of this day changed the lives of those residing in America forever. United States was considered somewhat safe, in regards to terrorists’ attacks. However, this all came to a screeching halt when 19 militants known to be a part of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group hijacked four planes for the purpose of destroying targeted areas in the United States. As a result of the deadly attack on the United States, security measures drastically changed. Although, security measures throughout the United States have been in place, extreme caution came into effect. All departments looked at different measures to improve preventing terrorists’ attacks.

additions to airport security in the United States following the attacks of September 11, 2001, is

Some say that the key to success on preventing terrorism, or any crime for that matter, is the use of massive surveillance enforcement (Someone's Watching). For instance, airlines have used the Computer Assisted Pre-Screening System (CAPS) to spot any dangerous passengers that have checked into the airline. Additionally, metal detectors are heavily used in airlines to check for any weapons that a terrorist might use. Video cameras that capture faces and license plates found all throughout the airport are now equipped with a software that allows images to be recognized and matched with several databases (Public Places Have Eyes). Cameras in general are present in every corner of the airport to monitor all irregular activities. Some also believe that "having a floating eye in the sky could prove to be a major deterrent in the war on terror" when talking about aerial surveillance (Surveillance Tech). Moreover, these surveillance tools are not only used in airlines to prevent crime. These surveillance gadgets can also be used to prevent other crimes such as robberies, trespassing, assaults, and shopliftings everywhere. In fact, with the help of aerial cameras, the Tampa Florida Police Aviation Unit was able to perform 500 arrests in the year of 2003 (Surveillance Tech). As for metal detectors, they are found at the entrances of almost every store we go to as well as school premises that push for a weapon free