Surveillance practices have been increasing in the private and public sphere over the last 30 years. Recently the ethics of these practices have been increasingly questioned with US & European companies selling equipment to oppressive regimes in the Middle East and US & European police using sophisticated techniques in monitoring legitimate protests. At the same time other aspects of surveillance are broadly accepted, such as CCTV in the UK and identity cards in Germany. However there has been little normative reflection on surveillance at the academic level.

One such possible approach is the use of categories traditionally associated with the just war tradition. Such categories include authority, just cause, discrimination, proportionality, chance of success, intention and necessity. Possible subjects for discussion may thus include, but not be limited to:

• What are justifiable reasons for surveillance?
• Are there categories of people who should be immune from surveillance?
• Is intention relevant to surveillance?
• Is there a default right not to be surveilled?
• How should the question of legitimate authority be addressed in surveillance?
• What is proportionality and what is meant by proportionate surveillance?
• Is there such a thing as harmless surveillance?
• When does surveillance become necessary?

Surveillance ethics is the central area of research of Dr Kevin Macnish (University of Leeds). Kevin can be contacted through the links below.