From Surveillance to Toutveillance: Evaluating the Social Impacts of Different Monitoring Paradigms

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This article explores the evolution and impacts of different monitoring paradigms: traditional surveillance, sousveillance, and toutveillance. Traditional surveillance, characterized by hierarchical observation from an authoritative entity, often results in power imbalances, privacy invasion, and social inequality. In response, sousveillance monitoring by individuals of those in power emerges as a countermeasure, aiming to democratize oversight but still facing legal and ethical challenges. Toutveillance, which promotes mutual monitoring among all parties, is presented as a potential solution to these issues, leveraging technology such as body cameras to enhance transparency, accountability, and reduce discriminatory practices. The article argues that while each paradigm has its merits and limitations, toutveillance offers a more balanced approach to address the complexities of modern surveillance, privacy concerns, and social justice.</p>