Definition:
Surveillance is the systematic observation, recording, or analysis of people, behaviour, or activity, often conducted continuously or at scale.
Usage Context:
Used in discussions of state power, policing, workplaces, digital platforms, welfare systems, public spaces, and online services.
Critical Note:
Surveillance is frequently justified as safety, efficiency, or optimisation. When normalised, it shifts behaviour through anticipation rather than force, encouraging self-regulation while obscuring who is watching, why, and with what consequences.