Surveillance—the monitoring of people's behaviour, activities, or information—is not new. But in the 21st century, powered by digital technology and artificial intelligence, i
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-07-16
Introduction
Surveillance—the monitoring of people's behaviour, activities, or information—is not new. But in the 21st century, powered by digital technology and artificial intelligence, its scale and scope have exploded. We now live in what many call a "surveillance society," where our movements, communications, and even our faces are constantly being watched, tracked, and analysed by a combination of government agencies and private corporations. This pervasive surveillance raises profound questions about the balance between security, convenience, and our fundamental right to privacy.
Learning objectives
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- Define a surveillance society and describe its key features.
- Identify different forms of modern surveillance, from CCTV to online tracking.
- Explain the role of facial recognition technology and its potential dangers.
- Analyse the concept of the "chilling effect" and how surveillance can impact free expression.
- Discuss the use of social credit systems as a tool for social control.
The Watchers: Government and Corporate Surveillance
Modern surveillance is carried out by two main actors. First, there are governments and state agencies (like the police and intelligence services). They use surveillance for purposes like preventing crime, fighting terrorism, and maintaining national security. Their tools include mass interception of digital communications, vast networks of CCTV cameras in public spaces, and the use of technologies like automatic number plate recognition on roads. …