The article addresses the surveillance of telephone records of citizens who use Verizon by the security agencies such as NSA (National Security Agency) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) ("Surveillance of Phone Calls is Troubling", 2013). Surveillance is a key operational tool by these agencies to ensure that the security of the citizens is guaranteed. However, it is worrying that the surveillance is being conducted for all citizens who raise questions about data privacy ("Surveillance of Phone Calls is Troubling", 2013). Thus, some arguments are supporting the intrusion of privacy by the agencies while others feel that it is a violation of the private Act. The access to the phone records and the details of those who use the Verizon Business Network Services is a violation of the privacy of the citizens.
Author Analysis
The details of the author are highly anonymous. The information that is provided is the source of the article which is “The Record”. The organisation covers information on the various sectors of the economy such as communication, media, financial services and even technology. The author of the article is likely to be a security expert mainly because of the information that they have on the government's use of the surveillance tool. Moreover, they have a background on the legal developments regarding the extent to which the security agencies should implement their surveillance strategies on the members of the public.
Purpose analysis
The principal purpose of the author is to inform and persuade. The author exposes the extent which the security agencies access the telephone records and data on the Verizon Business Network Services. Hence, by reading through the article, the subscribers of the network have been sensitised to the act by the security agencies. The author recognises the importance of security especially after the 9/11 attacks and the rising cases of insecurity across the country. However, the author feels that access to such information, especially on innocent citizens who are not suspects, is a breach of the Private Act and the privacy of the U.S citizens who use the network.
Voice analysis
The tone that has been used by the author is a serious, informative tone. The author understands the weight of the subject of discussion. Hence, they intend to inform and change the opinion of the readers through facts based on the current situation. Thus, by seeking to educate the audience about the current state of the telephone surveillance by the government, their primary intention is to ensure that they also change the view that most of the members of the public have and to ensure that the government agencies act ethically based on the requirements of the law.
Genre analysis
The article is an expository essay that presents the facts about the surveillance of the telephone records by the government agencies. The author provides facts which are not in the public domain of how the government has access to the telephone records of the members of the public. Moreover, the author relates the current situation if it is in line with the law by exposing the critical aspect that the citizens are not aware of the current situation. Moreover, the government has not informed the public of its intentions. Thus, the essay exposes the surveillance issue with the aim of informing and influencing the decisions of the government agencies.
Strategies analysis
Strategies in writing are essential to ensure that the author delivers the message to their audience in an effective manner. There is evidence of a couple of policies which have been deployed by the author. The use of a captivating opening statement is a strategy that the author has used to ensure that they capture the attention of the readers. Moreover, the author has used the cause-effect approach as a means of convincing. By exposing the data to the security agencies, the effect is that the privacy of the citizens will be violated. Comparing and contrasting is another strategy that has been used by the author to analyse the benefits and the disadvantages of such effects by the security agency. Suspense has also been used primarily at the end where the author leaves the audience with a caveat even after declaring their position.
Effectiveness analysis
The author is useful mainly because of the rhetorical strategies that have been used in the article. By comparing what is expected of the government against the reality provides a basis which the audience is swayed. Moreover, the use of facts to support the position is more convincing especially by drawing reference from the Patriotic Act. Hence the text has moved me to take a stand on the use of surveillance by the government agencies. Moreover, the initial perceptions and thoughts that I had concerning the access of data by the agencies have been changed. Thus, the author has been effective in communicating, convincing and presenting their position on the subject matter of discussion.
Rhetorical appeals analysis
The two main rhetorical appeals which have been used by the author are logos and pathos. Through logos, the author presents evidence of how the security agencies have access to the telephone details of the citizens on the Verizon Business Network. Moreover, the legal facts are used to disapprove the move by the government based on its violation of the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act seeks to ensure that the security of the citizens is maintained while also protecting their privacy. The author also uses pathos by appealing on the beliefs of the members of the audience that they deserve privacy of their conversations and interactions through the telephone. The author insists that failure of the government to sensitise the public of its activities is unethical.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is morally wrong for the government security agencies to intrude on the privacy of the citizens without their knowledge. Security is critical and vital to the development and peace of our nation. However, the citizens also have a right to privacy of their information. Moreover, the law, through the Patriotic Act, provides critical guidelines on how far the security agencies can go with regards to the intrusion of the privacy of the citizens. Hence, it is crucial for the government to inform the public of their intentions to ensure that they achieve the privacy and security objective simultaneously.
References
Surveillance of Phone Calls is Troubling. (2013). The Record (Bergen County, NJ), 1(1). Retrieved from http://www.northjersey.com
