surveillance
Systematic covert watching
Surveillance is close observation of a person, place, or activity, typically conducted secretly.
The term usually implies systematic monitoring by authorities or institutions: The suspect was under constant surveillance.
Security cameras, wiretaps, and tracking software are common surveillance tools.
The word carries connotations of suspicion and power imbalance—those watched rarely consent to or know about the watching.
Monitoring location over time
- watchingActively looking at something
- recordingCaptured audio or video
- loggingRecording system events
- scanningSystematic visual examination
screening · auditing · detecting · wiretapping · eavesdropping · listening · observation · inspection
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- MI5British domestic intelligence agency
Mossad · covert · undercover · informant · mole · counterintelligence · reconnaissance · operative
Evoking oppressive surveillance states
- dystopiaImaginary terrible society
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- panopticonCentral-view prison structure
dissidents · censorship · propaganda · Stasi · KGB · control · repression · watchlist
Surveillance camera network
- camerasVisual recording devices
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- checkpointInspection station on route
perimeter · alarm · watchtower · closed-circuit · infrared · guardhouse · sentry · gated
EU data protection law
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- encryptionConverting data into code
- VPNEncrypted network connection
opt-out · cookies · whistleblower · Snowden · overreach · warrant · subpoena · targeted
Identifying disease transmission paths
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
- syndromicRelating to syndrome patterns
biosurveillance · pandemic · CDC · WHO · sentinel · early-warning
tracking
Monitoring location over time
scanning · screening · auditing · detecting · wiretapping · eavesdropping · listening · observation · inspection · metadata
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
MI5 · Mossad · covert · undercover · informant · mole · counterintelligence · reconnaissance · operative · handler
Orwellian
Evoking oppressive surveillance states
- dystopiaImaginary terrible society
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
panopticon · dissidents · censorship · propaganda · Stasi · KGB · control · repression · watchlist · blacklist
CCTV
Surveillance camera network
checkpoint · perimeter · alarm · watchtower · closed-circuit · infrared · guardhouse · sentry · gated · fencing
GDPR
EU data protection law
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- encryptionConverting data into code
VPN · opt-out · cookies · whistleblower · Snowden · overreach · warrant · subpoena · targeted · warrantless
contact-tracing
Identifying disease transmission paths
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
syndromic · biosurveillance · pandemic · CDC · WHO · sentinel · early-warning
- police workpatrol, arrests, arrest, stings, investigation
- safety monitoringsmoke detector, fire alarm, carbon monoxide detector, security camera, motion sensor
- Air Forceflying officer, squadron leader, wing commander, group captain, air marshal
- national securityCIA, FBI, NSA, Pentagon, DHS
- Reconnaissancerecon, scouting, recce, observation, recon team
- repressionsecret police, mass arrests, torture, disappearances, detention camps
surveillanceinattention
Lack of focus
neglect · negligence · disregard · ignoring · looking away
surveillanceprivacy
Freedom from observation
anonymity · secrecy · concealment · invisibility · seclusion
surveillancefreedom
Absence of constraint
liberty · autonomy · self-determination · trust · non-interference
- surveillance equipmentDevices for covert monitoring
- surveillance cameraDevice recording observed areas
- video surveillanceRecorded visual monitoring
- surveillance footageRecorded monitoring video
- surveillance stateGovernment that watches all
- surveillance systemsTechnology for observing activities