Since the terrorist attacks of September 2001, surveillance has been put forward as the essential tool for the 'war on terror, ' with new technologies and policies offering police and military operatives enhanced opportunities for monitoring suspect populations. The last few years have also seen the public's consumer tastes become increasingly codified, with 'data mines' of demographic information such as postal codes and purchasing records. Additionally, surveillance has become a form of entertainment, with 'reality' shows becoming the dominant genre on network and cable television.