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Surveillance

Definition

Surveillance is the monitoring, observation, or tracking of individuals' activities, behavior, communications, or movements through various means such as technologies (e.g., cameras) or human agents.

Analogy

Think of surveillance as being followed by an invisible detective who watches your every move. They keep an eye on you, listen to your conversations, and collect information about you without your knowledge or consent.

Related terms

Privacy: Privacy refers to the right of individuals to control access to their personal information and protect themselves from unwanted intrusions.

Wiretapping: Wiretapping is the act of surreptitiously intercepting or recording telephone conversations or electronic communications without the knowledge or consent of those involved.

Mass Surveillance: Mass surveillance involves monitoring and collecting data on a large scale, often done by governments for various purposes such as national security or social control.