The government should certainly have some leeway in electronic communications, in order to prevent further acts of terrorism. The fact that the September 11 terrorist attack could have been avoided if information had been obtained in time shows the need for greater government control over communications. According to Harris, "The Watchers" had all the information needed to alert authorities to the impending attack, but failed to gather it in time. These “observers” surely could have prevented the attack if they had had more formidable access to the necessary intelligence. Some will say that the government's intensive surveillance could be turned in favor of those who wish to attack us. Attacks of this type have occurred in Greece, where the mobile phone network has been used by non-government employees to access government communications. Landau expressed concern over such attacks, saying "the U.S. government is opting for short-term security and creating dangerous long-term risks." Although the threat of terrorism is real, the benefits of government surveillance are undoubtedly overwhelming. Many cases of juvenile delinquency have been justified by surveillance of suspects or perpetrators. In many cases, the offender will wear a tracking device to ensure their commitment to comply with the conditions (Sklaver). In conclusion, there should be a balance between security and government control. Excessive government control could lead to the collapse of the United States' security, while insufficient government control could leave it vulnerable to attack. Likewise, mobile communications can be used to help citizens collaborate with federal officials. Carnegie Mellon University has implemented a mobile application in which citizens can take a photo on their smartphone and up...... middle of paper ...... sity Law School. Cornell University School of Law. and Web. February 13, 2014. Harris, Shane. The Watchers: The Rise of the American Surveillance State. Penguin Publishers. Landau, Susan. “Surveillance or security? » MIT Press. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2012. Internet. January 30, 2014. Sklaver, Stacey L. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Monitoring Programs in Juvenile Cases.” » ABA. ABA Delegates House. 2010. Internet. February 13, 2014. Welty, Jeff. “Unsecured Cell Phone Tracking: Fifth Circuit Comes In.” North Carolina Criminal Law. University of North Carolina. August 1, 2013. The web. January 30. 2014.