Cambridge Library Conference. (2018). PREVENTing Freedom of Inquiry? Surveillance, privacy and the ethics of librarianship. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfq0TjiI_Y0

This video from the Cambridge Library Conference references the UK’s 2015 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, which has been criticized as being in conflict with academic freedom. It references Prevent, an initiative for surveiling citizens, which has resulted in situations such as students who have been reported for reading and borrowing books from libraries on certain subjects. This has created an atmosphere of self-censorship and lack of trust among students and individuals who are in already marginalized groups. The video discusses the ethical implications of such initiatives and how libraries and librarians can protect patron privacy and promote freedom of inquiry and academic freedom while remaining within the bounds of the law.

This video is from the UK and references UK law around increasing surveillance, which shows how surveillance in libraries is not just a problem in the United States. The speaker also discusses how surveillance issues and their consequences in the US are being reflected in the UK and how they can learn lessons from the mistakes made in the US. It is an excellent video because it directly addresses the consequences to patrons at the individual level as well as overall effect on society when broad state-sanctioned surveillance on citizens is implemented into academic and intellectual spaces.

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PBS. (2014). United States of Secrets: The US Surveillance Program—Part 1. Frontline. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-united-states-secrets-part-one/

PBS. (2014). United States of Secrets: The US Surveillance Program—Part 2. Frontline. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-united-states-secrets-privacy-lost/

Both of these Frontline videos detail the history and scope of the US surveillance program that began with the passage of the US PATRIOT Act in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks through Edward Snowden’s leak of classified information in 2013. The series interviews intelligence officials, whistleblowers, lawmakers, and cabinet officials. Part one covers the history of the program, while part two discusses the role of tech companies in conducting mass surveillance on US citizens.

This is an excellent two part series that should be viewed for anyone looking into the ethics of surveillance in libraries. It contains crucial background information into these programs, which impact library record-keeping and how libraries are fighting to protect patron privacy.

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The following is another video featuring the issues of surveillance on US citizens. YouTube warned that it is a state-owned media outlet from Iran, so it may be biased. Though that is always a possibility for any video production and should be considered in any documentary.

The Surveillance Machine: America’s Surveillance State—Part 1
©2014

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Other Potential Sources

Debating the Constitution: Technology and Privacy: A Debate
©2017
ISBN 978-1-64198-300-6

The End of Secrets
©2015
ISBN 978-1-64198-475-1

Digital Dissidents
©2015
ISBN 978-1-63521-456-7

Privacy in the New Media Age: Part I—Ethical Markets 6
©2015
ISBN 978-1-68272-577-1

Privacy in the New Media Age Versus the First Amendment: Part II—Ethical Markets
©2015
ISBN 978-1-68272-578-8

The U.S. Should Adopt the “Right to Be Forgotten” Online: A Debate
©2015
ISBN 978-1-68272-109-4

An Eye on You: Citizens under Surveillance
©978-1-68272-090-5
ISBN

In Google We Trust
©2014
ISBN 978-0-81609-947-4

Surveillance: Cybercrimes with Ben Hammersley
©2014
ISBN 978-1-68272-526-9

Snowden Was Justified: A Debate
©2014
ISBN 978-0-81609-939-9

Spy on Me, I’d Rather Be Safe: A Debate
©2013
ISBN 978-0-81609-936-8

Monitor Me
©2013
ISBN 978-0-81609-503-2

The Age of Big Data
©2013
ISBN 978-0-81609-238-3

Ethical Implications in Government Surveillance
©2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlZQsdYxuvs

The Fear That Has A Thousand Eyes: Security and Surveillance in the 21st Century
©2012
ISBN 978-1-61753-928-2

Rise of the Machines: Will Civilian Drones Reshape American Life?
©2012
ISBN 978-1-61753-704-2

Ethical Dilemmas for Reference Librarians
©2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CMm_ovpJkc

Erasing David: Surveillance vs. Privacy in the 21st-Century Data State
©2010
ISBN 978-1-62102-623-5

Google Violates Its “Don’t Be Evil” Motto: A Debate
©2008
ISBN 978-0-81609-876-7

Watching Me Watching You: Nanotechnology and Civil Liberties—A Fred Friendly Seminar
©2008
ISBN 978-1-60467-693-8

Better More Domestic Surveillance Than Another 9/11: A Debate
©2007
ISBN 978-0-81609-861-3

Science of Surveillance
©2007
ISBN 978-1-61616-319-8

Biometrics
©2007
ISBN 978-1-60467-395-1

Big Brother, Big Business: The Data-Mining and Surveillance Industries
©2007
ISBN 978-1-4213-9596-8

Peter Jennings Reporting—No Place to Hide
©2005
ISBN 978-1-4213-2836-2

Security Threat: Terrorism, Surveillance, and Civil Liberties
©2003
ISBN 978-0-7365-9028-0

Whatever Happened to Privacy?
©2001
ISBN 978-1-4213-7554-0