Power in the modern ‘surveillance society’: From theory to methodology1

Abstract

The rapid expansion of new Information and Communication Technologies has improved the possibilities for surveillance, rendering modern society a ‘surveillance society’ (Lyon, 2006). Surveillance practices today comprise a myriad of actors. However, relations between different groups of “observers” and “observed” and their respective impact on the form of surveillance are not yet sufficiently considered. Furthermore, methodologies are missing “to look beyond abstract theory” (Galič et al., 2017, p. 34). This paper proposes theoretical considerations as well as a methodological framework by taking a meso-level perspective and by incorporating the examination of power relations in surveillance systems. It is argued that contemporary surveillance structures encompass hierarchies, albeit not in a traditional unidirectional manner. Furthermore, a first attempt is made to provide a methodological framework that helps to analyse the power relationships between diverse actors that emerge due to differences in capabilities to observe and hide. Based on a number of specified indicators, the framework aims to assist in understanding how power is distributed and in how far actors and their position within the hierarchy determine the form of surveillance and the impact it can take.