integrated ch 8 Flashcards
surveillance
Surveillance: The targeted observation of a person or a population with less power (economic, social, and/or cultural) than the observer.
Surveillance impacts privacy, security, and individual freedoms.
history of surveillance
Early Censuses
Babylonians (~4000 BC): Counted people and food resources.
Ancient Egyptians: Used census data for land allocation.
Chinese (~2 AD): Conducted door-to-door censuses with remarkable accuracy.
Romans: Extensively utilized census data for taxation and military service.
Surveillance and Colonialism
Shifted from population management to population control.
Colonized populations were documented, resettled, and classified.
Examples: 1666 census records in colonial New France.
Remote Sensing and the Cold War
Technology development for military use (e.g., CORONA Satellite Program).
Surveillance became integral to geopolitical strategies.
Post-9/11 World
Surveillance expanded significantly with the establishment of Homeland Security.
The Patriot Act enabled phone tapping and broad data collection.
Controversy: Balancing national security with civil rights.
drivers of surveillance expansion
Technology
Advances have increased surveillance capabilities:
Computerization: Easier data handling, faster analysis, and networking.
Miniaturization: Small, portable devices (e.g., smartphones).
RFID Tags: Embedded in objects for tracking.
Politics of Fear
Fear leveraged to justify surveillance expansion:
Cold War: McCarthyism and COINTELPRO targeted dissenters.
Post-9/11: Framed as essential to prevent terrorism.
Personalization
Tracking individuals in unprecedented detail.
Examples: Smartphones, social media, and connected devices like Alexa
types of surveillance
Inside Surveillance
Focuses on individuals using their possessions or actions:
RFID Tags: Found in clothing, cards, and goods.
Smart Devices: Collect data through apps and IoT devices.
Outside Surveillance
Observes individuals externally:
Remote Sensing: Satellites and drones track cars and people.
Facial Recognition: Identifies individuals in public spaces.
Surveillance Cameras: Over 1 billion globally.
ethical concerns
Privacy: Loss of control over personal data.
Power Imbalances: Surveillance disproportionately affects marginalized populations.
What is the role of remote sensing in surveillance?
Answer: Satellites and drones provide data for tracking people, vehicles, and environmental changes.
What were early censuses used for?
Answer: Population management, resource allocation, and land distribution
How did the Romans use surveillance?
Answer: For taxation and military service through detailed census records.
How did colonial powers use surveillance?
Answer: To control colonized populations through documentation, resettlement, and classification.
How did the Patriot Act expand surveillance?
Answer: It enabled phone tapping and broad data collection post-9/11.
What is the “politics of fear” in surveillance?
Answer: Using fear (e.g., terrorism) to justify expanded surveillance powers.
What role do RFID tags play in surveillance?
Answer: Enable tracking of objects and individuals, often embedded in goods and ID cards.
How does surveillance disproportionately affect marginalized populations?
Answer: It reinforces power imbalances and increases monitoring of vulnerable groups.
What is the significance of remote sensing in modern surveillance?
Answer: Provides broad and precise monitoring capabilities for environmental and geopolitical purposes.
