Sight and Power
Thinking Allowed
The Evolution and Implications of Surveillance in Modern Society
Surveillance has evolved from its origins in the term's French roots, meaning 'watching over,' first used post-French Revolution to describe monitoring efforts. Its meaning has shifted dramatically over time, particularly with Jeremy Bentham's panopticon concept, which introduced the idea of an unseen observer, reflective of earlier medieval and biblical notions of surveillance. While historically, social relationships were predominantly close-knit, with individuals engaging mainly with family or locals due to limited mobility, modern society facilitates numerous distant interactions, often with strangers. This shift highlights the importance of trust mechanisms in these relationships, necessitating various forms of surveillance to verify identities and protect personal and financial transactions. These modes of surveillance, such as driver's licenses and passcodes, serve dual purposes: they enable access to activities while also allowing for tracking and registration of individuals in a more interconnected, yet increasingly monitored society.
