Technology in Homeland Security
Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Uses of Technology
Homeland security responses to terrorist threats rely on technology. Terrorists, too, understand that Homeland Security has superior technology that detects and counters their activities, and thus, they adapt to the changes and devise even more ways to sidestep the Homeland Security defensive measures. While terrorist strategies are driven by the kind and range of the weapons, the homeland security strategy has driven the dynamics of technologies (Jackson, 2009). Homeland security strives to acquire any new advanced weapon or defensive mechanisms that emerge from technology to get ready to defend against any terrorist threats (Mallik, 2004). The examination of the terrorists’ behaviors by analysis shows that there is a wide acceptance that terrorists tend to adapt and evolve. However, the forces that shape the adaptation area are not transparent (Jacksosn, 2009). In other words, the tactics that have been used by terrorists in the past ten years are not the same tactics they are using now. The lack of transparency of the forces that compel terrorists to adapt to changes has provoked debates about the incentives of terrorist innovations.
Homeland security’s operational use of technology entails various practices that aim at neutralizing terrorist threats. First, homeland security alters operational practices by changing the way it acts or designs its operations (Mallik, 2004). Homeland security alters the operational practices to degrade the value of terrorist threats; this can be done by acquiring detection tools that help in detecting lethal chemical weapons. Homeland security also makes technological changes or substitutions by modifying the technologies known to terrorists or even substituting the known technologies with new ones to confuse the terrorists and eventually contain them (Jacksosn, 2009). Homeland security could also avoid the defensive technology by shifting its bases from the areas believed to be terrorists to more strategic areas that have fewer threats. Doing so displaces the terrorists and thus makes them weak to counter.
Ethics and Privacy in the Employment of Technology
The issue of infringement of individual privacy is becoming more and more pronounced in this era of information technology. As new technologies emerge, it is becoming easy for third parties to access other people’s private information. Homeland security is not left behind because it depends on various technologies in its operations. In the course of using different technologies to monitor and counter terrorist activities infringes on individual privacy by accessing people’s private information without their consent (Hartman, 2002). The act of interference with individuals’ privacy is considered an unethical practice. Some of the ways Homeland Security is believed to violate peoples’ privacy are, first, through inspection and scanning of peoples’ bags at the entry points. Modern technology has enabled security officers to detect the contents of the bags and luggage of people entering the country. Individuals’ privacy is infringed when the contents of the luggage are revealed (Hartman, 2002). Exposing peoples’ privacy is prohibited, and individual privacy is protected by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, it is believed that the security of a nation is paramount than the privacy of individuals (Folmer, 2019). As much as Homeland Security interferes with individuals’ privacy through searches and scanning, it is necessary to do so to protect the nation. Thus, violation of individuals’ privacy by Homeland Security cannot be termed as unethical practice because they do it to ensure the security of the nation (Hartman, 2002). Therefore, homeland security searches, detection, and scanning of peoples’ luggage at the entry points is a necessary evil since it’s better for people’s privacy to be infringed to secure a nation from terror activities.
Assessment of Alternative Policies to Address an HLS Technology Challenge
Homeland security experiences a myriad of technical challenges while trying to protect the nation against terrorist threats. However, various policies could be used to find the solutions to the technological challenges in homeland security thus, improve how this institution operates. To maximize its value and effectiveness in the contemporary situation, Homeland Security should create first policies that prioritize connecting state, local, tribal, and territorial officials with federal resources (Rudman et al., 2021). This could be done by investing in communication infrastructures where the state could employ local resources to counter an emergence, or the local authority could use state resources to handle security situations.
Secondly, Homeland Security should create a policy that seeks to enhance communication by managing information sharing and public disclosures of intelligence between the local and federal units. It can do this by ensuring the technology that is used at the local level is the same technology that is applied at the federal level to enhance seamless communication and coordination (Rudman et al., 2021). The third policy should revolve around protection; Homeland Security should invest in technologies that improve cyber security and other critical infrastructure to help bridge the gap between the public and privately-owned infrastructure (Bonvillian & Sharp, 2002). Terrorists also understand different ways of cyber-attacks; this calls for Homeland Security to upgrade its cyber security to prevent threats from terrorists.
Roles of the Public and Private Sectors in Developing, Employing, and Funding HLS Technologies
Right from WW2 through the end of the Cold War, public-private partnerships in the U.S. remained an integral part of national defense. American citizens were trained by the federal government to keep an eye on the enemy aircraft, help in the preparation of the nuclear attacks, and direct air drills in public spaces. The public-private partnership has remained to be strong towards the end of the 20th century and is even strong in the 21st century (Busch & Givens, 2012). There are several major incidences in recent American history where both the private and public sectors partnered to provide technology to homeland security to handle the situations.
The 9/11 terrorist attack, the Hurricane Katerina tragedy, and the deep-water Horizon oil spill are major incidences where private and public sectors partnered (Chandra, Moen, & Sellers, 2016). For example, in the 9/11 attack, Verizon played an important role in quickly providing technology and rebuilding the network infrastructure to help in reopening the New York Stock Exchange. During Hurricane Katerina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in collaboration with the state of Louisiana, donated $2.3 billion, which was used to enhance various technologies to assist the affected people (Busch & Givens, 2012). During the same incident, Walmart, the world’s largest retail store, played a big role by donating foodstuff to the affected people. During the deep-water horizon disaster, the Red Cross helped by employing innovative shelters to help shelter the displaced Gulf residents. The private sector helped in hiring local fishermen and also gave them some technological equipment to help in cleaning up the waters.
Recommendations
- The U.S should stay on the current course of the technology investment because it has proven that with this technology investment, the U.S will remain ahead of the terrorists in the matters of security and thus will manage to prevent many security threats.
- The U.S should consider increasing the technology investment basing on the fact that security threats are increasing and becoming more complex. Therefore, they need complex technology to mitigate threats and manage disasters whenever they occur.
- The U.S should not abandon the current development in favor of alternative strategies. This is because the country has already invested a lot in the current technological development abandoning it will mean that billions of money already invested will be going to waste. The country should just work to improve on the available technology development.
References
Bonvillian, W & Sharp, K. (2002). Homeland Security Technology. Retrieved from https://issues.org/bonvillian/
Busch, N & Givens, A. (2012). Public-Private Partnerships in Homeland Security: Opportunities and Challenges. The Journal of the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Volume XVII https://www.hsaj.org/articles/233
Chandra, A., Moen, S & Sellers, C. (2016). What Role Does the Private Sector Have in Supporting Disaster Recovery, and What Challenges Does It Face in Doing So? Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE187.html
Danis, B. (2004). The Role of Technology in Homeland Security. Retrieved from https://www.umsl.edu/divisions/business/mis/files/pdfs/BOV05-1.pdf
Folmer, M. (2019). Top Benefits of Using Technology to Better Manage Security Workforces. Retrieved from https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/90625-top-benefits-of-using-technology-to-better-manage-security-workforces
Hartman, L. (2002). Technology and Ethics: Privacy in the Workplace. Business and Society Review 106(1):1 – 27. DOI:10.1111/0045-3609.00099
Jackson, B. (2009). Technology Strategies for Homeland Security: Adaptation and Coevolution of Offense and Defense. The Journal of the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Volume XVII. Retrieved from https://www.hsaj.org/articles/109
Mallik, A. (2004).Technology and Security in the 21st Century. A Demand-side Perspective. Oxford University Press. https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/files/RR/SIPRIRR20.pdf
Rudman, M et al., (2021). Redefining Homeland Security: A New Framework for DHS to Meet Today’s Challenges. Center for American Progress. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/reports/2021/06/16/500642/redefining-homeland-security-new-framework-dhs-meet-todays-challenges/
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Question 
This week, you will submit a draft of your Key Assignment for grading and instructor feedback. Draw from the first 3 weeks of this course, and revise helpful elements of your first 3 weeks’ worth of assignments for inclusion in your Key Assignment draft. For the assignment, you will be drafting a report summarizing the role of technology in society and assessing the efforts of the United States to harness it to reduce the threat of terrorism.
The paper will focus on the following:
Consideration of strategic, operational, and tactical uses of technology
Consideration of ethics and privacy in the employment of technology
Identification and assessment of alternative policies to address an HLS technology challenge
Respective roles of the public and private sectors in developing, employing, and funding HLS technologies
Your paper will conclude with recommendations to the President of the United States on the following:
Should the United States stay on the current course of technological investment? Explain your answer.
Should the United States increase its technological investment? If so, how?
Should the United States abandon current development in favor of an alternative strategy? If so, what strategy would you propose?
Support your arguments with authoritative sources and apply appropriate APA formatting guidelines.