Definition:
Policing is the enforcement of rules, norms, or boundaries through surveillance, punishment, or threat of consequence.
Usage Context:
Used in law enforcement, platform moderation, workplace discipline, social norms enforcement, and cultural regulation.
Critical Note:
Policing extends beyond formal institutions. Informal and algorithmic policing shape behaviour without accountability, often targeting marginalised groups disproportionately.
Related Terms:
Surveillance Creep, Selective Enforcement, Punitive Neutrality