De Leon, Nicole Franchezka G.

Opao, Gabrielle V.

A Brief Explanation For the Concept Map

Data visibility in contemporary times is being normalized because in the 19th and 20th
century, the observer and the prisoner develop power. From this, the observer gets the
capacity to control over the prisoner as they are being controlled that leads to self-
discipline over time.

“The Panopticon is a marvelous machine which, whatever use one may wish
to put it to, produces homogeneous effects of power” (Foucault, 1995).

But as we adhere with the concept of modernization, we tend to use technologies for
surveillance. In the past penal system, when the night comes or as day ends, the
surveillance process stops in that moment. But in today’s world, with all the
technological advancements, the process becomes universal for they have the power to
see the happenings in every corner in an instant.

[…]” if in the past some form of (visual) surveillance could be exercised, for
example, in the workplace, it would stop with the end of the working day;
today, it may continue at home as employers increasingly engage in the
surveillance of workers’ sleep quality, fatigue levels, physical exercise, etc.
(often using wearable technology), with data being transferred to company
online platforms (Manokha 2017). Those employees who work from home on
company-provided equipment are under similar surveillance as are their
colleagues working in the office (employers record all the actions that they
perform on their computers, take random screenshots, use keylogging
software, etc.). And, with the possibilities offered by geolocation
technologies, the information on the employee’s movement after work may
also be recorded (through their smartphone or the car they drive) by
employers3 or other ‘watchers’ (mobile network providers, security services
and commercial entities operating CCTVs, especially those equipped with
facial recognition, etc.). In addition to this, any online activity that
individuals engage in (shopping, social media, Internet surfing, etc.) is also
recorded and processed by some kind of ‘watchers’” (Manokha, 2018).

This is also the reason why there is an interpersonal surveillance that gives way to the
accessibility of people’s data and privacy.

Interpersonal surveillance is also mutual on social media, as users are able

to watch and be watched. The fact that users can choose to watch others as
well as make themselves visible adds an empowering dimension to this
surveillance (Koskela, 2004; Albrechtslund, 2008).
Facebook’s users make their lives visible to each other, and this exchange enables
unanticipated kinds of visibility (Trottier, 2012). The more people post in social media,
the more people witness the existence of their privacy. Anticipated kinds of visibility
occur because users are able to watch and be watched. In this sense, the process of the
surveillance system becomes normalized because of the normalization of exchange of
information of the people around social media. Also, privacy is being violated due to the
whole surveillance process. Privacy as a value is being reconfigured through users’
familiarity with social media. They may experience privacy violations, but these
violations are part of a normalization of social media visibility (Trottier, 2012).

Privacy is being violated, unwanted kinds of exposure are being shown, and anticipated
kinds of visibility are at its peak to occur. The solution in this problem is to make a
petition to the government to reinforce the right to privacy and freedom from
surveillance.

According to Liberty Victoria (2019), it states that the right to privacy is the
right to be free from undue surveillance by government or anyone else.
Surveillance by the State should only occur if absolutely necessary and where
authorized by an independent judicial officer. Personal information should
only be collected and kept by the State and anyone else for a legitimate
purpose authorized by law. Once collected, personal information should be
destroyed as soon as it is no longer required.

This means that if this act has been reinforced, justice for the people whose rights have
been violated will prevail. Given also that this normalization of data visibility results into
different kinds of occurrences, it is possible that if the reinforcement of the act becomes
normalized as well, it would be easy for everyone to attain self-disciple when it comes to
accessing data.

References:

Foucault, M. (1995). In Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison. In A.B. Sheridan,
A. (Trans.). Vintage Books (pp. 195-228).

Manokha, I. (2018). Surveillance, Panopticism and Self-Discipline in the Digital Age.

Surveillance and Society 16(2), (pp. 219-237) Retrieved from
https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/index.

Trottier, D. (2012). Interpersonal Surveillance on Social Media 37(2), (pp. 319-332).

Canadian Journal of Communication Corporation. Retrieved from https://www.cjc-
online.ca/index.php/journal/article/download/2536/2315

Retrieved from :https://libertyvictoria.org.au/content/right-privacy-and-freedom-

surveillance