Computer and network surveillance involves monitoring computer activity, data stored on hard drives, and data transferred over networks like the Internet. This monitoring can be done covertly by governments, corporations, criminal groups, or individuals, and may or may not be legal depending on authorization. While surveillance allows authorities to maintain control and investigate crimes, many civil rights groups argue increasing surveillance could limit personal freedoms and have led to lawsuits against mass surveillance programs.

1. Computer and network
surveillance

2. Computer and network surveillance is the monitoring of computer activity
and data stored on a hard drive, or data being transferred over computer
networks such as the Internet. The monitoring is often carried out covertly
and may be completed by governments, corporations, criminal organizations,
or individuals. It may or may not be legal and may or may not require
authorization from a court or other independent government agency.
Introduction

3. Surveillance as a just cause
Surveillance allows governments and other agencies to maintain social
control, recognize and monitor threats, and prevent and investigate criminal
activity. With the advent of programs such as the Total Information Awareness
program, technologies such as high speed surveillance computers and
biometrics software, and laws such as the Communications Assistance For Law
Enforcement Act, governments now possess an unprecedented ability to
monitor the activities of citizens

4. Many civil rights and privacy groups, such as Reporters Without
Borders, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the American Civil
Liberties Union, have expressed concern that with increasing
surveillance of citizens we will end up in or are even already in a mass
surveillance society, with limited political and/or personal freedoms.
Such fear has led to numerous lawsuits such as Hepting v. AT&T. The
hacktivist group Anonymous has hacked into government websites in
protest of what it considers "draconian surveillance".
The revolt of the groups for privacy

5. Author: Satriani Francesco V C
References: chron.com