Surveillance abuse
Encyclopedia
Surveillance abuse is the use of surveillance
methods or technology to monitor the activity of an individual or group of individuals in a way which violates the social norms
or laws of a society. Mass surveillance
by the state may constitute surveillance abuse if not appropriately regulated. Surveillance abuse often falls outside the scope of lawful interception
. It is illegal because it violates peoples' right to privacy.
Covert surveillance by police
and the use of informant
s to conduct surveillance was introduced in the 16th century in Europe. In the mid-19th century in the United States, most large cities had police forces which covertly surveiled suspected criminals and others deemed "radical" or otherwise undesirable. Allegations of surveillance abuse increased as this practice became more common (Marx & Fijnaut).
In modern times, surveillance abuse has become more widespread through corporate and industrial use of private security firms which may be used to conduct industrial espionage
, monitor competitors, and target trade union
leaders.
During the FBI
's COINTELPRO
operations, there was widespread surveillance abuse which targeted political dissident
s, primarily people from the political left
and civil rights
movement. Many opponents of the Real ID Act of 2005, including the 511 campaign, cite the RFID-embedded Real ID as a mass surveillance tool to be used by the state against dissidents.
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
methods or technology to monitor the activity of an individual or group of individuals in a way which violates the social norms
Norm (sociology)
Social norms are the accepted behaviors within a society or group. This sociological and social psychological term has been defined as "the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. These rules may be explicit or implicit...
or laws of a society. Mass surveillance
Mass surveillance
Mass surveillance is the pervasive surveillance of an entire population, or a substantial fraction thereof.Modern governments today commonly perform mass surveillance of their citizens, explaining that they believe that it is necessary to protect them from dangerous groups such as terrorists,...
by the state may constitute surveillance abuse if not appropriately regulated. Surveillance abuse often falls outside the scope of lawful interception
Lawful interception
Lawful interception is obtaining communications network data pursuant to lawful authority for the purpose of analysis or evidence. Such data generally consist of signalling or network management information or, in fewer instances, the content of the communications...
. It is illegal because it violates peoples' right to privacy.
Covert surveillance by police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and the use of informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
s to conduct surveillance was introduced in the 16th century in Europe. In the mid-19th century in the United States, most large cities had police forces which covertly surveiled suspected criminals and others deemed "radical" or otherwise undesirable. Allegations of surveillance abuse increased as this practice became more common (Marx & Fijnaut).
In modern times, surveillance abuse has become more widespread through corporate and industrial use of private security firms which may be used to conduct industrial espionage
Industrial espionage
Industrial espionage, economic espionage or corporate espionage is a form of espionage conducted for commercial purposes instead of purely national security purposes...
, monitor competitors, and target trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leaders.
During the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
's COINTELPRO
COINTELPRO
COINTELPRO was a series of covert, and often illegal, projects conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations.COINTELPRO tactics included discrediting targets through psychological...
operations, there was widespread surveillance abuse which targeted political dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
s, primarily people from the political left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
movement. Many opponents of the Real ID Act of 2005, including the 511 campaign, cite the RFID-embedded Real ID as a mass surveillance tool to be used by the state against dissidents.
See also
- Mass surveillanceMass surveillanceMass surveillance is the pervasive surveillance of an entire population, or a substantial fraction thereof.Modern governments today commonly perform mass surveillance of their citizens, explaining that they believe that it is necessary to protect them from dangerous groups such as terrorists,...
- Police misconductPolice misconductPolice misconduct refers to inappropriate actions taken by police officers in connection with their official duties. Police misconduct can lead to a miscarriage of justice and sometimes involves discrimination...
- Police statePolice stateA police state is one in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population...
- Political repressionPolitical repressionPolitical repression is the persecution of an individual or group for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing their ability to take political life of society....
- Religious PoliceMutaweenThe word mutaween most literally means "volunteers" in the Arabic language, and is commonly used as a casual term for the government-authorized or government-recognized religious police of Saudi Arabia....
- StalkingStalkingStalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
- Category:Surveillance scandals