Technology and Government
When thinking of defining moments of the 21st century, one cannot help but think of the fast emergence of technology. Since the invention of the computer then the internet, the technology industry has been booming. Because of this intense shift toward a digital world the people as well as the government had to shift to accommodate this change. Though technology can be seen as an advantage, since it keeps the world interconnected, there are many dangers that come along with it such as identity theft and the protection of private data. Public administrators have had to deal with these dilemmas and learn to adapt to them. These adaptations led to not only solutions for the dilemmas, but new ethical questions.
The Changing Database
In order for works to be stored then retrieved it must be saved onto some type of database. What started out as a simple way for government officials to save important information onto hard drives will soon continue to develop into something more complex and more widespread. A database can take many forms such as storage, a layer of security for identification, or logs for employees (Holzer & Schwester, 2015). With this available the possibilities are endless for those working in public administration to have something that makes their job easier. They are now able to enhance their abilities in interpreting data and keeping track of information. An example of a system that has enhanced government ability to perform tasks is one that combines and organizes various forms of data onto a map of a geographic area and is called the Geographic Information System (Holzer, 2015).
The Geographic Information System allows for the government to place information onto a visual structure, thus letting them notice specific patterns (Holzer, 2015). By noticing patterns, they are able to better understand what area they have gathered information from. From experience, most people know that having a visual reference for learning can be extremely useful. Suddenly information goes from being thousands of facts on a page to a simplified way of presenting the data. An example of the GIS being used successfully was following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Emergency responders created a map of the city to know more about the area, they added every fire hydrant, water system, building and other defining factors of the city (Holzer,2015). Because of their use of the GIS to construct a model of New York City officials were able to access information about an area at the touch of the button. This, I can imagine, proved useful to those trying to save lives. They now had access to a city on a computer, instead of having to travel miles to gain just a sliver of information.
Digital Convergence
In the 1970’s the electric typewriter began to gain popularity in the government sector, then transformed into word processors and then into the database (Holzer,2015). This innovation of having written text being available instantly and being able to complete multiple tasks at once can be referred to as digital convergence. A more specific definition of digital convergence states that it is the use of a single unifying device for all of our media needs, such as the computer (Evans, Martin & Poatsy, 2016). Digital convergence is a huge step in making multi-tasking easier for individuals. Let’s think in the shoes of a paralegal doing research for their boss. In the past the paralegal would have to search through multiple different books for hours for a statute then write what they need down by hand. But now they can use a computer, search for a law with specific phrases to make the search less tedious and write down everything on the note’s app of a computer.
Importance of Security
One of the biggest concerns with technology is the inevitability of being hacked. In the past, documents were only available on paper, and things were done by hand. Now the problem government officials are facing is that everything is digital, thus forcing them to know their way around the computer. Government employees not only have the responsibility of gathering data, but they now have to make sure that data is protected (Holzer,2015). Because of this they must go through training in order to know what to do in the event of a cyber-attack, and how to avoid human error. There have been times of mistake due to human error such as the time in Michigan when 70,000 people had their social security number printed on mailing labels (Holzer,2015). With that event now written in history, government officials find it necessary to have somebody who has more oversight in technology and is heavily trained in the digital realm.
In 2012 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that there were 2 million complaints sent to them in regard to security, 18% being identity theft (Holzer,2015). Citizens face the possibility of their identity being stolen each time they purchase something online or enter valuable information about themselves into unsafe internet browsers (Evans,2016). Unfortunately, because of this possibility, the FTC and other government officials always have to be aware of the fact that data can be stolen, and it can be stolen easily. If the government chose to not respond to cybercrime then the distrust in the government would increase. People would feel not only unprotected in the streets but online, therefore I see it as imperative for them to be knowledgeable about the different types of cybercrime that can occur.
One of the most well-known leaks about technology came from Edward Snowden in 2013. He published that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court had ordered Verizon to give big data about the phone calls placed by millions of Americans to the FBI (Lyon, 2014). This revelation gave controversy to the fact that governments are monitoring their citizens, and the citizens are not even aware of such monitoring. This is a touchy subject for most, as some feel it is an invasion of privacy while others feel it is imperative for the safety of the country. Although it may seem like the instance of freedom of privacy is diminishing, but it is in fact the otherwise. Big data is redefining the role of information and its protection in society, but most are not recognizing its importance (Lyon, 2014).
Trends for Public Officials
The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that 70% of Americans have high speed internet, which inevitably affects how the government has to run. With more than half of Americans having access to high speed internet, it would not be logical for the government to turn towards a more technological focused way of working. But this comes with the downside that because of the pressure of the use of new technology, the government is only spending more money on it (Holzer,2015). By spending more money, the government may be putting itself at risk for an even HIGHER debt crisis. As a result of knowing that there is no escaping technology and the ever fear of spending too much money on keeping updated, government officials have to create new tools to improve the decision-making process and providing online information to citizens. These new tools include social networking, structured data, the deployment of broadband mobility, and shared services (Holzer,2015).
To speak more specifically about social networking because I find that to be the most influential of them all, especially when trying to reach the people. The internet allows for people to constantly share their opinions on any comment section. Moreover, the internet is referred to as bringing people together to express their common opinions (Holzer,2015). That can be a huge advantage to the government for wanting to push their agenda. By having the media report on specific stories, they can gain a higher understanding of the public reaction. On the other hand, this can be problematic because it implies that the media is bias toward the government.
The Opinion
The views that I observed in the readings heavily emphasized the everchanging society we are in. I observed the importance of technology and how the government now has the responsibility of protecting its peoples not only in the real world but the virtual one. I find both of these statements to be true. By having a secure database, the government itself is strong. With something that is inherently weak it is easy for people with bad intentions to receive information that is potentially harmful to that society. I believe it is important for the government to stay up to date on technology and try to integrate it as much as possible. I disagree with trying to not spend as much money on technology because then the government would fall behind in comparison to society. We, as the United States, spend enough money on defense and I believe that technological defense could fit in that subject line. Especially after the referenced Snowden event, it is important for the government to know what to do if there is a leak about confidential information. By staying up to date on technology we may prevent this from happening again. All in all I see the importance of technology when it comes to public administration and think we have to focus on knowing everything about it.