Lect 5. - Lateral Surveillance Flashcards
Describe what an era of ‘savvy skepticism’ is?
Its a way of defining modern society as no one trusting each other which results in the inability to take someone at face-value. Therefore, due to the lack of trust we find ways to surveil people in attempts to reach an objective truth
e.g. googling your professor before taking the class
What is lateral surveillance? and what are some examples of it
Lateral surveillance is the act of an individual monitoring or surveilling someone who is on the same hierarchical level as them.
For example:
- eavesdropping
- date detectives (monitoring person youre in a relationship with)
- criminal background check
How does The Risk Society Mentality tie in with wartime lateral surveillance?
Citizens should be involved in lateral surveillance in order to protect our national security
- “The State Cant Be Everywhere”
- The Risk Society Mentality states that theres danger and threat lurking all around which is linked to terrorism. Therefore, we must increase government surveillance in order to prevent the occurrences of a huge attack. In terms of lateral surveillance, the government is saying that they cant be everywhere at the same time therefore its encouraging its citizens to be involved in lateral surveillance of one another in a way that the state cannot (on a personal level).
What is patriotic voyeurism?
Patriotic voyeurism is the idea that we should not shy away from surveillance because we are helping our country by monitoring the actions of people around us
What are the concerns with wartime later,a surveillance?
- people are not comfortable with being forced or told to spy on others in order to protect the country
- it gives them a huge responsibility that is hard to follow because of that reason
- people also don’t like the idea of others spying on them and have to be careful of what they say and how they behave everywhere they go
What was the state’s response to lateral surveillance after 9/11?
The state sponsored campaigns that encourage disclosure and surveillance
Briefly name and describe two campaigns that the state sponsored?
1) “If you see something say something” campaign
- it was popular in new york after the 9/11 attacks
- claimed that if you see something suspicious, let the authorities know
- Flaw: it was very xenophobic, and people were often reporting innocent brown people because they “fit the look of a terrorist”
2) “Texas Border Watch”
- this was a different that the 9/11 targeted programs because it prevent the trespassing of illegal immigrants from mexico
- A camera is set up across the texas/mexico border and anyone can go online and monitor the cameras and report any illegal activity.
What is the idea behind “The citizen/Soldier/Suspect”?
it claims that one person can act as the citizen, the soldier and the suspect.
- by watching, monitoring and reporting activity on a lateral level, one person can also be subject to be a suspect therefore, they have to be a subject to their own monitoring
What are some issues with lateral surveillance?
- False call-ins (prank phone calls)
- Lack of participation
- Xenophobic surveillance (targeting a specific race of people)
- lack of addressing the root of the crime (poverty, depression, politicsl representation…)
- encourages the legitimization of state surveillance
- contributes to a risk society mentality and fear of danger
- Harmful in a healthy sense of a community (people often report very minor crimes and the larger crimes get lost in the sea of minor ones thus putting the communities in danger)
Overall, is lateral surveillance effective?
No it has not been effective in stopping or preventing terrorism
In his article “The work of watching one another”, what issues does Mark Andrejevic arise?
In his article he amplifies the productivity and intensity of disciplinary surveillance and how when people are living in a world run by savvy skepticism, we are forced to discipline our actions and thoughts
