Online surveillance tools allow investigators to watch people and their activities in real time. They could include cameras, microphones, GPS trackers and biometric scanners panremmuswebdesign.co.uk like fingerprint and Iris scanners. They also can include software which spies on the computer activity such as keyloggers.

The use of these tools comes with serious legal implications. They could violate human rights and should be subject to clear legal frameworks that protect privacy. These frameworks should specify the rationales for their use and outline the authorization processes that are required, including judiciary oversight. They should also define limits on data collection and retention.

Lack of transparency when using these tools can be a problem because it could encourage individuals to self-censor themselves out from fear of being observed. In addition, the broad use of monitoring social media for the purpose of detecting threats, free from suspicions of wrongdoing may produce a mountain of irrelevant information that may obstruct information about — and resources for — real public safety issues.

While these tools may offer law enforcement agencies significant investigative benefits, they should be subject to clear legal frameworks that guarantee the rights of individuals. The laws should define the justifications for their usage and the authorization procedures that are required and set limits on the collection and retention of data. The tools should be subject to oversight by a judge since an independent judicial review could assist in preventing misuse of surveillance technology. Additionally regular reporting and disclosure could build trust and facilitate public debate about the proper limits and effectiveness of these tools.