When I think about this issue, I feel that it is not just a question of technology or any government policy but it is deeply involved in our daily lives. Those of us who live here know very well how important security is to people. We all want to be safe with our family, society and our own future but at the same time there is another issue which is our personal privacy.
Today we all are deeply connected with technology, mobile phone, internet, social media have become a normal part of our life. Where we're going, who we're talking to, what we're discussing, all this information remains in the digital world. Sometimes it seems that many parts of our lives are going unnoticed. Imagine a situation where the government or some authority is keeping an eye on us all the time for our safety. They can monitor our phone calls, know where we are going, and even know a lot about our daily habits. Many may say that if this surveillance reduces crime and people are safe, then where is the problem?
But when I think about it a little deeper, it seems that there is a big question hidden in it because as humans we all need some personal space. There are moments when we just want to be ourselves. If people always feel that someone is watching them, their sense of freedom may gradually diminish.
In a country like Bangladesh this issue is more sensitive because in our society people's opinion, personal life and social relations are very important. If people feel that their every word or every move is being watched all the time then many people may hesitate to express their opinion. And a society thrives only when people can think and speak freely. So I think security is important but it is not right to take away all privacy of people in the name of security. We need a system that has the necessary surveillance to deal with crime or danger but at the same time respects people's personal liberties.
