Free Term Paper On Homeland Security

Introduction

Intelligent agencies all over the world are tasked with predicting future security challenges. In the United States of America, homeland security is mandated to handle this. Information and knowledge are virtually the only things that create awareness of any threat to any nation in the world. On receiving this information, homeland security analyses it and states whether it is and military on non-military ( Lahneman, 2013). The progressive change in technology and the use of social media has evolved into a challenge that the intelligent agencies face. Information and knowledge are categorised into two: information that nations share voluntarily and that they desire to keep secret.

EXPLANATION

With the evolvement of technology, traditional methods of information collection have become less effective as people tend to use social and the internet platforms. These platforms have been proved to be cheaper and faster compared to previous methods. As information continues to revolutionise the world into a global society, Intelligence agencies have a test in analysing this information. Most of the threats that will pose challenges are smaller in scale but with extremely destabilising and destructive effects. It is due to increased aggregate human activities. In order to counter these threats, intelligent agencies will have to understand global dynamics.
The internet has played an immense role in information sharing between individuals of a state and different states. Experts say that social networking technologies include the capability to manipulate governance. For example, evidence shows that social media played a significant role in the Arab region. It is most evident in countries where protests have taken place. The debate has been that social media played a role in instigating the violence while others regard them as mere tools. In Tunisia and Egypt, for example, Facebook was used to raise awareness about the on-going civil movement and at the same time spreading information to the world. It clearly shows the power of informatics and the effects it has in Nations. With both traditional and developed threats at hand, the U.S government faces more challenges bearing in mind that it is sworn to protect the protect its liberties such as the freedom of speech.

ANALYSIS

Compared with previous years, technology has played a tremendous role in information flow from one point to another and thus making the world a global society. In the first three months of 2011, Facebook had grown up by 30% compared to 18% in 2010 in the Arab region. (Mourtada, R., & Salem, F, 2011) It is therefore, evident that social media in the Arab world played a big role in the uprising. Apparently, growth in information technology being used as a mode of communication rather than the traditional forms. It has shaped opinions, empowerment and influenced change. For years, the Arab governments had enjoyed dominance on the flow of information in societies until the emergence of social media.
In the United States of America, social media is a platform that has created change both in the political and social sectors. (Lahneman, 2010) The society now has means to exist autonomously from political institutions. They are used as a mobilising platform, as an intermediate of debate, dialogue and collective decision building. With the U.S sworn to protect the liberties of the freedom of speech, it is hard to monitor information flow among its citizens. An attempt on depriving this freedom could lead to citizens questioning of the intent the government on their rights set in the constitution.

RECOMMENDATIONS

With the development of information technology and use of social media as a platform, the U.S government should adopt new ways to counter technological challenges in gathering information entirely different from its traditional methods/ways. With all sorts of threats hovering over U.S.A, it is important for the Intelligence agency to set up policies on how to monitor the flow of information at the same time not infringing the rights of its citizens. This step will help in detecting intention by terror groups and sects and preventing them from happening. Such measures will assist in maintaining its citizen’s trust in them and prevent anxiety and distrust in them. With the evolvement in technology, the government should put come up with policies to counter cyber warfare.
The government should put in place an information entity that collects intelligence from social networks. In order for this to be realised, the government and private sectors should share information voluntarily. It is also important for the United States needs to develop a new institution that will be able to collect vast information obtained in within and outside the country. With it facing a lot of threats from in within and outside the country, it's relevant for it to create ways of sharing information with other nations. If these measures are put in place, they could prove very fruitful in the fight against terrorism and other threats that would bring a challenge to it as a Nation. With sophisticated technological gadgets available to the government, policies will be the primary issue to be put in place.

Reference

Lahneman, W. J. (2010). The need for a new intelligence paradigm.International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, 23(2), 201-225.
Lahneman, W. J. (2013). Examining the NGPI “Dots”. International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, 26(4), 730-743.
Mourtada, R., & Salem, F. (2011). Arab Social Media Report. UAE: Dubai School of Government