The chapter reviews the interrelationship between privacy and surveillance with a special focus on tensions in the name of national security, and human rights in the age of digital media. As technology has evolved so rapidly, the tension between the claims of national security and privacy has been elevated to levels never before seen. This paper argues that a historical argument and constitutional principles are better platforms for unfolding the erosion of privacy rights resulting from expanding surveillance practices in the wake of events such as September 11. Therefore, the chapter will take a qualitative approach involving a review of existing literature on the subject of digital privacy and surveillance, using both descriptive and analytical methods. Descriptive results build from an examination of major themes, historical dimensions, and the legal framework regarding this issue. The analytical dimension critically assesses these dimensions in terms of the ethical, legal, and democratic implications of mass surveillance. The study concludes by asserting that rights and security are not a zero-sum game but at the same time require global cooperation and prioritizing privacy in the development of digital surveillance systems.