Dear Italki tutors,
Would be grateful if u could check my IELTS response to this task:
Some people believe that governments should have access to people’s mobile phone call records and messages for safety reasons. Others believe that this information is private and should not be available without permission.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
There are those who feel that governments controlling people’s phones can bring a number of benefits in terms of national security. Others, however, reckon that personal privacy should be respected, and I agree with that.
On the one hand, some people think that accessing people’s phones enables governments to detect citizens posing a threat to society. Such measures might seem extreme at first glance. However, in such circumstances as war, they might be deemed protective. To illustrate that, since there is martial law in Ukraine, the majority of calls are eavesdropped on, and messages are monitored to identify people uncovering confidential information regarding military targets. As a result, the number of potential traitors has been dramatically reduced, minimizing the risks to other members of society.
On the one hand, some people argue that privacy should be of paramount importance, and I agree. So why do I feel this way? If people’s rights are violated, they would be constantly living in fear and uncertainty. Consequently, they would not express their beliefs freely and would be more inclined towards migrating abroad so as not to be spied on. For instance, in recent years, a number of Chinese have been leaving the country for Western democracies because they could not bear the brunt of constant government control, resulting in them feeling more distressed.
In conclusion, while opinions may differ, I feel that government policies aimed at tracking their citizens’ phones would result in people being anxious, and if we want them to stay in the country it is crucial to respect their inalienable right to privac
