State-Sanctioned Surveillance

A State-Sanctioned Surveillance is a state surveillance that, while not directly conducted by government bodies, is officially approved or authorized by the state.

• Context:
  • It can be related to but distinct from State Surveillance and State-Sponsored Surveillance, focusing on the endorsement rather than the direct execution of surveillance.
  • It cam allows states to leverage the capabilities of third parties, thus extending their surveillance reach without direct involvement.
  • It is often justified on similar grounds as other forms of surveillance, such as National Security, Public Safety, and Law Enforcement, but it can also be aimed at economic or strategic advantages.
  • It can blur the lines between private and public sectors, raising unique concerns regarding accountability and transparency.
  • It can facilitate a broader range of surveillance activities, sometimes escaping the stricter oversight that governs direct state operations.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Agreements where telecommunications companies provide user data to the government under legal and financial incentives.
  • Projects where technology firms develop surveillance technologies and systems specifically for state use, even if the state does not directly manage the systems.
  • Collaboration between states and international tech companies to monitor communications across borders.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Direct government surveillance operations, where no third-party entities are involved.
  • Surveillance activities conducted without official state endorsement or legal framework.
  • State-Sanctioned Violence.
  • ...
• See: State Surveillance, State-Sponsored Surveillance, Privacy Rights, Civil Liberties, Corporate Surveillance, Surveillance Capitalism, National Security.

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