Surveillance After 9/11 | Lincoln News

0:00It's September 11th. I'm Cory with the story. This is Lincoln News today, driven by AI. 25 years after September 11th, the way the government watches us has changed a big time. We're talking about a massive expansion of surveillance tech, built up after the attacks that can now collect and analyze information on a scale we. Couldn't even imagine back then. This infrastructure, from task forces sharing intel to new laws giving agencies more power, has become deeply woven into everyday policing. This surge of surveillance wasn't without its critics. Civil liberties groups raised alarms about privacy and constitutional rights, while many folks felt it was a necessary tradeoff for safety. Plus, it led to increased scrutiny for people perceived as foreign or threatening, with American Muslims and immigrant communities feeling a heavy burden. Then came the digital age, smartphones, social media, and a flood of commercially collected data, meant more information was out there than ever. Police departments started getting their hands on tools, like license plate readers and cell phone tracking,

1:04capable of mapping our movements. Now, artificial intelligence is taking it a step further, sifting through all this data and connecting dots at lightning speed. Experts say the sheer volume of information and the government's ability to make sense of it has fundamentally shifted since 9-11. Automated license plate readers, facial recognition, and commercial data all feed into systems that AI can analyze faster than any human. This creates a powerful and some argue concerning new reality for privacy. The original goal was to prevent another attack, but these systems have expanded beyond counterterrorism. Fusion centers and real-time crime centers now help with all sorts of investigations. While these tools can be incredibly effective for public safety, especially with limited resources, the potential for misuse and the impact on civil. Liberty's remains significant concerns, as this technology becomes even more integrated into our lives.