Surveillance involves monitoring individuals through various technological means for purposes such as tracking employee performance, ensuring compliance with policies, and maintaining social control. It can include observing from a distance using cameras, intercepting electronic communications over the internet or phones, and analyzing social networks and biometric data. Governments and law enforcement commonly use surveillance to recognize threats and prevent or investigate criminal activity.
1. Surveillance isthe use of IT to monitorthe actionsof people.Forexample,monitoringmaybe usedto
track, recordand assessemployees’performance.Itcanbe usedtosupportclaimsfor promotionorto
ensure thatemployeesfollow the organization’sinternetpoliciesappropriately. -ITGSguidebook
The word surveillancemay be appliedtoobservationfromadistance bymeansof electronicequipment
(suchas CCTV cameras),orinterceptionof electronicallytransmittedinformation(suchasInternet
trafficor phone calls).Itmayalso refertosimple,relativelyno- orlow-technologymethodssuchas
humanintelligenceagentsandpostal interference.
Surveillance isveryusefultogovernmentsandlaw enforcementtomaintainsocial control,recognize
and monitorthreats,andprevent/investigate criminal activity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJisTJ30iEU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-qmH5irA-0
Types of surveillance :
Computer Surveillance - The vast majority of computer surveillance involves the
monitoring of data and traffic on the internet. In the United States for example, under the
Communications Assistance For Law Enforcement Act, all phone calls and broadband
Internet traffic (emails, web traffic, instant messaging, etc.) are required to be available
for unimpeded real-time monitoring by Federal law enforcement agencies.
Telephones and mobile phones - The official and unofficial tapping of telephone lines is
widespread. In the US for instance, the Communications Assistance For Law
Enforcement Act (CALEA) requires that all telephone and VoIP communications be
available for real-time wiretapping by Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Surveillance Cameras - Surveillance cameras are video cameras used for the purpose of
observing an area. They are often connected to a recording device, IP network, and/or
watched by a security guard/law enforcement officer.
2. Social Network Analysis - One common form of surveillance is to create maps of social
network based on data from social network sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter as
well as from traffic analysis information from phone call records such as those in the
NSA call database__,__ and others. These social network"maps" are then data mined to
extract useful information such as personal interests, friendships & affiliations, wants,
beliefs, thoughts, and activities.
Biometric Surveillance- Biometric surveillance refers to technologies that measure and
analyze human physical and/or behavioral characteristics for authentication,
identification, or screening purpose. Examples of physical characteristics include
fingerprints, DNA, and facial patterns.
Aerial Surveillance - Aerial surveillance is the gathering of surveillance, usually visual
imagery or video, from an airborne vehicle—such as a unmanned aerial vehicle,
helicopter, or spy plane. Military surveillance aircraft use a range of sensors (e.g. radar)
to monitor the battlefield.
Surveillance devices "Bugs" - Surveillance devices, or "bugs", are hidden electronic
devices which are used to capture, record, and/or transmit data to a receiving party such
as a law enforcement agency.