My Government And My Privacy
Technology is indeed taking over the globe and the advancements that we have seen with these technological innovations have been exciting. But is that where the story ends? One of the dangers that comes with technology is online theft and that's why so many firms and organizations do not joke with their KYC(Know Your Customer) verifications.
Today, most of the things we do especially online require us to input and confirm our data. I don't know the exact figures, but I know that my data have been spread across over 500 online platforms within my last 3 years in the online space.
Most platform claims these data are mainly stored for tracing and tracking fraudulent activities, but they do not even have the mechanisms to ascertain the accuracy of the information provided by the user.
It first started with developed nations, as the governments of various countries started adopting technology into their operations. The government of my country has joined in the adoption of technological innovations, but even more than that, the scope of data collection from citizens is on the rise in this part of the world.
The need for my government to collect so much data from its citizens increased tremendously when Nigeria became very popular for corruption and fraudulent activities, especially among the youths of the country (the continued rise of Yahoo boys).
It is understandable when the government strategies telecommunication networks to collect and keep the information of its citizens, especially to maintain public safety and national security. But going as far as location tracking and personal communications, it's obvious that the government is crossing the line over the individual rights of its citizens.
With such extensive monitoring capabilities by the government, citizens can not comfortably perform certain operations online, and they are equally prone to misuse of collected data.
Just recently, the government of my country insisted that every citizen in the country should link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their various SIM cards. Those who failed to link their NIN to their SIM card before the deadline day were banned from making calls within and outside the country.
For the government to have access to our NIN, it simply means they have gotten access to every information concerning us, because our NIN is required in everything we do online and offline. To know that even our bank details can be accessed with our NIN, I think it's unfair for the government to have all that information.
In my opinion, the government has not respected our rights enough, because they have refused to keep the balance between ensuring national security and respecting individual privacy.
Governments often argue that surveillance and data collection are essential requirements for protecting citizens from various threats. However, this pursuit of security should not become a pretext for unchecked surveillance that interrupts my personal space.
This clearly shows that there's no trust between the government and its citizens, which isn't supposed to be so. Trust should be a common trait between the government and its citizens, but the nature of government surveillance and data collection has ruined this trust.
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I believe everyone here loves freedom, at least that's the reason we choose a decentralized social media platform like Hive over some of the big centralized social media platforms out there. People may begin to alter their behavior, not out of genuine desire, but due to fear of government observation or repercussions.
I experienced this when the government of my country banned the use of cryptocurrency trading between crypto exchanges and traditional banks. Any transaction that's encrypted with the name or memo of a crypto exchange stands a risk of getting punished severely.
For me, the real challenge on this issue lies in the integrity and transparency of the government. An effective oversight and a clear legal framework wouldn't be a bad idea to ensure that this balance is maintained.
The government has already invaded our privacy, and the best advice I can give you is to take some precautionary measures to ensure your information is safe. For web browsing and communication, you can explore tools like VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to hide your location from the watchful eyes of the government.
We can equally join in supporting organizations that fight for digital rights and privacy laws. We can all play a part in shaping a future where data privacy is not just an option but a guaranteed right.