freedom-of-association
The right to join or avoid groups without coercion or surveillance, traditionally protected by law but challenged by modern digital monitoring.
2 chapters across 1 book
Dragnet Nation (2014)Julia Angwin
This chapter explores the impact of government surveillance on individual freedom of association through the story of Yasir Afifi, a young man under FBI surveillance. It highlights how digital footprints and associations are monitored and used to predict behavior, undermining traditional notions of privacy and freedom. The chapter also contextualizes freedom of association as a human right threatened by modern surveillance technologies and big data practices.
Chapter 4 of Dragnet Nation explores the tension between freedom of association and state surveillance, focusing on the case of Yasir Afifi, who was subjected to FBI scrutiny and legal challenges after online discussions raised suspicions. The chapter contextualizes this surveillance within broader governmental practices post-9/11, highlighting the impact on civil liberties, particularly the chilling effect on personal and political associations. It also references legal precedents and critiques the expansive use of big data and informants in monitoring communities.