Surveillance Cameras and Resistance: A Case Study of a Middle School in China

Abstract

Abstract China has rapidly evolved into a surveillance society. While much attention has been paid to describing the leviathan represented by the presence of surveillance cameras in China, empirical evidence on the mechanisms of the creep of surveillance remains limited. Using data collected through fieldwork and in-depth interviews, this study explores the spread of surveillance cameras and the resistance encountered in a middle school in northern China. We find that surveillance cameras were first introduced for security purposes, but their application was quickly expanded to discipline students and avoid responsibilities in school management. We further explore the resistance to the creep made possible by the existence of exempted spaces, the difficulty of self-surveillance, and what might be called the boomerang effect. Through the case study of a middle school, this research sheds light on the formation of the Chinese surveillance society from a bottom-up approach and contributes to the global literature on surveillance creep.