2022

“Surveillance” is defined as monitoring of behaviour, activities, or information for the purpose of information gathering, influencing, managing or directing.

Humans seem to have a need to watch each other. It can be simple curiosity - idle observation or the neighbourhood busybody who seems to have eyes everywhere. At a different level, surveillance may involve the justifiable gathering of information to prevent or investigate crime - or it can be for the purposes of carrying out crime.

Extreme versions are the stalker or the spy. In these worst case scenarios, surveillance might be aimed at gaining power over another person through the acquisition of embarrassing or incriminating behaviour, or for political or military purposes.

We live in an era of pervasive and increasing surveillance, whether by domestic, business or community CCTV cameras, tracking of data through social networking, or spying satellites.

Surveillance can unjustifiably violate people's privacy, and a liberal democracy usually has laws designed to restrict governmental and private use of surveillance. Such restrictions are not usually found where there is authoritarian government.

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