Tuesday, 7 April 2015

IELTS Academic Writing - Task 2

Nowadays technology is increasingly being used to monitor what people are saying and doing (for example, through cell phone tracking and security cameras). In many cases, the people being monitored are unaware that this is happening.
Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Today, we are constantly monitored with the use of technology and CCTV cameras in shops, public buildings, public transport etc. and via the internet as we freely give out our personal information. This limits our freedom and means that we have no privacy. Many people do not even realise that they are being watched to such a large extent.

Often security cameras are able to ensure public safety. In cases of terrorism, they are able to identify terrorists or discover important clues through cell phone tracking. Many criminals have been caught because police have had this type of evidence. In fact, sometimes this is the only way to catch criminals.

Others might argue that modern means of tracking are an invasion of privacy. Those who are unaware they are being watched might have nothing to hide and it is unfair that they have their daily conversations and actions exposed. There have been many scandals in the U.K. with respect to the media monitoring the private lives of well-known people. If we think about it, we also help towards being monitored by providing all our contact details on social networking sites, posting personal photos, showing our preferences and opinions on certain topics as well as our location when we check-in.

To conclude, the excuse we have been given about excessive monitoring by the government is that it is for the benefit of public safety. Unfortunately, in order to be safe, everyone needs to be monitored all the time, especially in public places.


Question taken from The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS for Academic & General Training p. 244

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