Mass Surveillance is Getting Worse (And You Are the Target)

Do you ever get that uneasy feeling that something bad is happening and there's not much you can do about it?

Have you noticed the increasing surveillance measures unfolding around the world?

You should take notice, because you are the target.

Worldwide trends in surveillance

Governments throughout the world are enacting surveillance laws based on a variety of different excuses:

• Terrorism
• Drug trafficking
• Tax evasion
• Copyright violations

Just in the past year, there have been three landmark laws passed.

1. In the UK, Parliament passed the Investigatory Powers Bill, which forces all internet service providers and phone companies to record the activity of their customers online.
2. In the US, Congress passed a law enabling internet service providers to record everything  their customers do online and sell this data to third parties and advertisers.
3. In Australia, a law was passed forcing internet service providers to bulk collect private data and browsing history – similar to in the UK. (Get a VPN for Australia to stay safe.

Problem. Reaction. Solution… more surveillance 

While the causes can certainly be debated, the rise in terrorism, crime, and violence will be used as an excuse to enact more surveillance measures. You see this trend unfolding clearly everywhere – particularly in the Western world.

1. Problem: increasing violence/terrorism/crime
2. Reaction: people become afraid and demand solutions
3. Solution: more surveillance and police state programs

It's all entirely predictable. And as with most government programs, these surveillance measures will be permanent, rather than temporary “solutions.” Remember the Patriot Act back in 2001?

Welcome to the police state.

The sad reality is that very little is likely to change with this trend.

In the interest of “security” and “public safety” governments want to know everything you do online, who you communicate with, and what your personal views are. And as various politicians demand more power to ensure public safety, the inevitable result is the loss of your privacy.

Even if you're a law-abiding citizen with nothing to hide, you may end up on the wrong side of the ever-expanding surveillance state. This is no conspiracy, but rather just an unbiased observation when you look at the laws passed in the last year.

Even if you have nothing to hide, you are now the target.

Protect yourself… right now

The best tool for protecting your privacy online is a good VPN (virtual private network). A good VPN service will encrypt your internet connection, protect your privacy, and anonymize your online activity.

Here's the bottom line: If you're using a good VPN in combination with other privacy tools, you don't have to stress about these developments. Just be smart and use protection whenever you go online.

For a full description of our top VPN recommendations, see the Best VPN service report.