Mass surveillance
Mass surveillance is the intricate surveillance of an entire or a substantial fraction of a population in order to monitor that group of citizens. The surveillance is often carried out by local and federal governments or governmental organizations, but it may also be carried out by corporations (either on behalf of governments or at their own initiative). Depending on each nation’s laws and judicial systems, the legality of and the permission required to engage in mass surveillance varies. It is the single most indicative distinguishing trait of totalitarian regimes. It is often distinguished from targeted surveillance.
Mass surveillance has often been cited by agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA) as necessary to fight terrorism, prevent crime and social unrest, protect national security, and control the population. At the same time, mass surveillance has equally often been criticized for violating privacy rights, limiting civil and political rights and freedoms, and being illegal under some legal or constitutional systems. Another criticism is that increasing mass surveillance could potentially lead to the development of a surveillance state, an electronic police state, or a totalitarian state wherein civil liberties are infringed or political dissent is undermined by COINTELPRO-like programs.
In 2013, the practice of mass surveillance by world governments was called into question after Edward Snowden’s 2013 global surveillance disclosure on the practices utilized by the NSA of the United States. Reporting based on documents Snowden leaked to various media outlets triggered a debate about civil liberties and the right to privacy in the Digital Age. Mass surveillance is considered a global issue. The Aerospace Corporation of the United States describes a near-future event, the GEOINT Singularity, in which everything on Earth will be monitored at all times, analyzed by artificial intelligence systems, and then redistributed and made available to the general public globally in real time.
A surveillance state is a country where the government conducts pervasive monitoring of its citizens, often using technology to collect and analyze personal information. This can lead to concerns about privacy and freedom of expression, as surveillance can discourage dissent and alter the balance of power between the government and the public. Examples include historical states like East Germany and modern examples involving technologies like facial recognition, data collection, and “smart city” infrastructure.
Characteristics
- Pervasive monitoring: The government systematically and routinely collects personal data, including online activity, communications, and physical movements.
- Use of technology: Modern surveillance states rely on advanced technology, such as facial recognition, automated license plate readers, and the ability to track digital information from phones and the internet.
- “Smart city” integration: Surveillance technologies are sometimes integrated into urban environments, with governments using data to manage and control the city’s operations.
- “Chilling effect”: The constant knowledge of being watched can lead to self-censorship, as people may be hesitant to express themselves freely or associate with certain groups for fear of government scrutiny.
Examples
- Historical: Early surveillance states like the former Soviet Union and East Germany used networks of informers and spy technology to monitor citizens.
- Modern: Countries like China have been described as having extensive surveillance systems that use technologies like phone tracking and facial recognition to monitor the public, notes The New York Times.
- Global: The United States has also been identified as a surveillance state due to large-scale government programs that collect vast amounts of Americans’ data, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] wikipedia/en/Mass_surveillance
[2] https://www.pogo.org/analysis/we-built-a-surveillance-state-what-now
[3] https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/why-surveillance-state-everybodys-problem
[4] https://www.cato.org/policy-report/september/october-2013/unveiling-surveillance-state
[6] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/world/asia/china-surveillance-investigation.html
[8] https://www.aclu.org/issues/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance/nsa-surveillance