Social trust at risk as surveillance tech becomes smaller

An article in the Financial Times (£) revisits the historical debate over surveillance technology, contrasting the early concept of "sousveillance," or "watching from below," with its current limited impact. While camera phones have enabled ordinary people to expose acts of police brutality and gig workers to access their data, these efforts have not been enough to check the widespread growth of surveillance.

The article goes on to highlight the rise of "peerveillance," where people are increasingly watching each other with gadgets like smart doorbells and camera-equipped cycle helmets. Looking at the direction of technological development in this space, the article raises concerns about new smart glasses that can take photos and videos, warning that the technology could eventually incorporate facial recognition. This would represent a qualitative shift, as people could be filmed and identified without their knowledge, potentially having a chilling effect on behaviour in public spaces.

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