Race and Surveillance History Overview

Citizen groups in the US South that monitored enslaved people, enforcing curfews, checking passes, and preventing resistance.

Laws in 18th-century NYC requiring Black, Indigenous, and mixed-race people to carry lanterns at night, without a White escort.

Forced relocation and imprisonment of 110,000 Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor.

A situation where a government acts outside the law to protect the public good during a crisis.

Increased surveillance and policing along the US-Mexico border, often justified by the drug war but reflecting racial hostility.

Drug prohibitions often target racial groups, like cocaine and Black men or opium and Chinese immigrants.

Modern surveillance systems often have a racial component, aiming to maintain racial hierarchy.

Surveillance practices help shape and enforce racial categories. Racial difference is created or maintained by surveillance and policing.

Increased monitoring of people living in poverty, often by government agencies and law enforcement.

A growing feeling of suspicion and negativity towards people living in poverty, which influences surveillance.

A false and racist stereotype claiming that welfare recipients are dishonest and irresponsible.

Higher levels of police presence and surveillance in areas with high poverty rates.

A feedback loop where increased surveillance and policing in poor areas leads to more perceived crime, leading to further surveillance.

Algorithms and data collection used to track and manage people living in poverty, making their lives more difficult in welfare, policing and finance, due to biased data.

Individuals need increased monitoring to receive welfare assistance.

Finding work and loans becomes tougher for individuals with arrest records and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Algorithms, used by various organizations (police, banks, etc.), can unfairly disadvantage the poor by denying loans, jobs, or housing.

The disadvantaged circumstances of the poor can be worsened due to surveillance programs, creating difficult circumstances to escape.

Wealthy individuals have more agency in maintaining their privacy, often having more options for avoidance of public surveillance.

Exclusive settings like Bohemian Grove or country clubs, where wealthy individuals network and discuss business, limiting public access.

A theory suggesting a select few individuals hold significant power and influence over society, often at the political, social, and economic levels.

A concept that suggests that surveillance of economic activity and personal information can lead to significant profit generation.

Wealthy people have access to resources and strategies to maintain private information, better than the poor.

The act of those with less power observing and scrutinizing the actions of those with more power, like institutions or authorities.

A philosophy that challenges those in power by asking them to confront their actions and consider how they are perceived by others.

Sousveillance can uncover hidden practices of those in power, promote transparency, and empower individuals.

Sousveillance faces challenges like difficulty in monitoring complex organizations, ethical concerns about privacy, and the possibility of misinterpretation.

Focusing on surveillance practices that target and perpetuate racial inequalities.

The idea that privacy is not just an individual right, but a necessary condition for a healthy and functioning society.

Focusing solely on individual privacy ignores the broader social contexts and power dynamics that shape surveillance practices.

The right to have certain personal information removed from the internet or databases, promoting privacy and data control.

The idea that privacy rights must be weighed against the need for public safety and other important societal interests.

Most data collection, even if it involves personal information, is generally considered acceptable if it serves a clear and legitimate purpose.

The tactic of taking control tools used by authorities and repurposing them in unexpected ways.

Sousveillance helps restore a balance of power by allowing individuals to monitor those in positions of authority, challenging their dominance.

Surveillance cameras can limit personal freedom and autonomy, but we often accept them to engage in public activities.

Sousveillance aims to reintroduce a traditional balance of observation by allowing individuals to scrutinize those in power, a dynamic disrupted by unchallenged surveillance.

Increased monitoring of welfare recipients, often involving intrusive personal questions and data collection. This practice erodes their dignity, privacy, and access to essential support.

A system of ongoing monitoring and control targeting minority populations, often used to manage and limit their opportunities.

Preconceived notions based on race about who is likely to commit crimes, leading to discriminatory treatment by law enforcement and the public.

The use of technology like surveillance cameras and social media to create a sense of constant observation, leading to increased fear and self-censorship.

Surveillance practices in welfare programs, child welfare systems, and community policing disproportionately affect low-income individuals, hindering their efforts to improve their lives.

Online platforms like Nextdoor and Facebook groups can be used to perpetuate racial bias and create a sense of exclusion within communities.