Privacy, surveillance and the public: Evidence from SPIR 2023
- Common Cause: Policy Oriented Journal Since 1982
- 42(3), Jul-Sep, 2023: p.26-32
This article examines the intersections of privacy, surveillance, and public perception, drawing on evidence presented at SPIR 2023 (Surveillance, Privacy and Information Rights conference). It highlights how surveillance practices—ranging from state monitoring to corporate data collection—reshape the boundaries of privacy in contemporary society. The study emphasizes the tension between security imperatives and individual rights, noting that public attitudes toward surveillance are often ambivalent, shaped by trust in institutions, awareness of risks, and cultural contexts. Evidence from SPIR 2023 underscores the growing demand for transparency, accountability, and stronger regulatory frameworks to safeguard privacy in the digital age. By situating these findings within broader debates on governance, technology policy, and human rights, the paper argues that surveillance regimes must be critically examined to ensure they do not erode democratic values or public trust.
Political Science, Privacy, Surveillance, Public Perception, SPIR 2023, Governance, Digital Rights, Accountability, Technology Policy, Human Rights, Data Regulation