Balancing Privacy and Security: An Ethical Analysis of AI-Driven Surveillance in the UAE, USA, and UK

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Communications in computer and information science

Publication Date

6-22-2026

Abstract

The explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in state surveillance presents profound ethical challenges, primarily concerning the loss of individual privacy in the name of national security. This paper conducts a comparative ethical analysis of AI-driven surveillance practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (USA), and the United Kingdom (UK). Through a qualitative methodology that examines legal frameworks, key case studies (Falcon Eye, PRISM, Tempora), and theoretical lenses including panopticism and social contract theory, we identify distinct ethical trade-offs shaped by governance models. Our findings indicate that the UAE’s centralized governance enables efficient but high-risk surveillance with minimal transparency or legal recourse, prioritizing state security over individual privacy. The USA’s democratic framework fosters public discourse and judicial oversight, creating a dynamic, although contentious, balance that offers stronger civil liberties protections. The UK employs a hybrid model, combining extensive surveillance powers under the Investigatory Powers Act with formal oversight mechanisms, though it faces criticism for legitimizing bulk data collection. The paper concludes that without robust, transparent legal safeguards and international cooperation, AI-driven surveillance inherently risks violating fundamental human rights. We propose policy recommendations centered on enhanced transparency, independent oversight, ethical AI auditing, and cross-border regulatory alignment to navigate the ethical tightrope between security imperatives and the preservation of privacy.

ISSN

1865-0929

Publisher

Springer Nature Singapore

Disciplines

Computer Sciences

Keywords

Transparency (behavior) (0.8) | Civil liberties (0.64) | Political science (0.53) | Corporate governance (0.5) | State (computer science) (0.48) | National security (0.48) | Democracy (0.45) | Criticism (0.45) | Ethical issues (0.43) | Public relations (0.42) | Sociology (0.39) | Balance (ability) (0.38) | Data Protection Act 1998 (0.38) | Law (0.36) | Civil society (0.34) | Information privacy (0.34) | Human rights (0.33) | Public trust (0.33) | Openness to experience (0.32) | Public administration (0.29) | Key (lock) (0.29) | Internet privacy (0.29) | Accountability (0.29) | Right to privacy (0.29) | Business (0.28) | Public policy (0.28) | Interrogation (0.27) | Big data (0.26) | Democratic governance (0.26) | Confidentiality (0.26) | Law and economics (0.26)

Indexed in Scopus

no

Open Access

no

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