National Security vs. Personal Privacy Rights

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The devastation of the September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks have resulted in the tragic loss of thousands of innocent human lives. That day had a profound impact on people around the world and changed the way Canadians viewed national security. The Canadian and United States governments made public safety and national security their highest priority. Anti-terrorism legislation were quickly passed, which dramatically expanded police and surveillance powers. “New controls on physical movement and identity verification were imposed at border crossings and airports. In that time of crisis, national security became the paramount consideration, even if privacy and civil liberties had to be sacrificed. However; now the public has started to cool to the idea of national security at all costs” (Cavoukian, Ann 2003). Nevertheless; the need to protect individual privacy is far more important than national security since national security depends on civil rights being honored. The protection of citizen’s personal privacy rights, at the expense of guaranteeing national security interests is necessary and must be the main priority of the Canadian government. Compared to other countries, the greatest part about living in Canada is our freedom. National security could lead to major issues which could threaten individual’s freedom, such as racial profiling, the corruption of absolute power, which could eventually be turned into military power, and there will be health mistrust between the government and its people. For those particular reasons, there is absolutely no possible logical reason to sacrifice Canadian civil rights for the purpose of national security. First of all, national security could lead to racial profiling; especially after the 9/11terriost attack on the twin towers could most definitely lead to problems. Since 9/11, racial profiling has been focused on

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