Five Films on Surveillance and Privacy
The Lives of Others.
This film is about writers who are under Stasi surveillance. The Stasi is one of the most infamous secret police who spied on East Germans. They’re the reason Germany is one of the most privacy-conscious countries in the world. You’ll have a hard time finding even a single German who will say their country is less secure now that the Stasi are gone. In one affecting moment after some writers determined an apartment wasn’t bugged one said, “this is the only place in East Germany where I can speak my true mind.”
Brazil.
An 80s film by Terry Gilliam about a world plagued by terrorism with a Kafka-esque legal system for those accused.
The Conversation.
A compelling film, a character study really, from the 70s by Francis Ford Coppola about a solitary and paranoid surveillance expert.
The Parallax View.
Another 70s paranoia film full of assassinations, political intrigue, conspiracy, and a disturbing brainwashing sequence.
Citizenfour.
A documentary about Edward Snowden and the journalists who worked with him on the explosive revelations of NSA surveillance.
There are others film I think, like Shadow Dancer, Eagle Eye, Enemy of the State and Body of Lies that show us how we need to pay more attention about our privacy.
I agree with the unpopularity of surveillance.
It is unconstitutional, no matter how you look at it.
It is an illegal act, no matter which way you want to try to make it ‘legal’.
It is an act of terrorism, committed against innocent citizens.
There is no place in society for these crimes.
Those who insist, should be punished.
Signed,
The all American, American…
You should add in “Snowden” to this page – really good movie and thanks to a lot of advertising, publicity and “big names” involved it may have the potential to reach large amount of people.
P.R.I.S.M. Surveillance system… ContilPro etc etc etc…