pervasive

The U.S. has the largest number of surveillance cameras per person in the world. Cameras are omnipresent on city streets and in hotels, restaurants, malls and offices. They’re also used to screen passengers for the Transportation Security Administration. And then there are smart doorbells and other home security cameras. Most Americans are aware of video surveillance of public spaces. Likewise, most people know about online tracking – and want Congress to do something about it. But as a researcher who studies digital culture and secret communications, I believe that to understand how pervasive surveillance is, it’s important to recognize how physical and digital tracking work together. Databases can correlate location data from smartphones, the growing number of private cameras, license ...

I have varying views about the massive use of celebrity videos, gossip and rumours in today's society. I should start off by saying that I have nothing against the celebrity culture in the western world, I do believe the use of the word 'celebrity' and the connections with it have become undervalued over the years. When I was a kid, a celebrity was a title that was related to people who actually had some kind of distinct achievement, such as explorers, scientists and a select few musicians. In the year 2011 the term 'celebrity' almost had no value at all - like a devalued currency. These days it seems like anyone who vaguely comes close to a television camera is a celebrity. My feeling is that with the large volumes of celebrity videos, photographs and rumours about these people,...

Tag: pervasive

Even If No One Is Looking For You, Yes You Are Being Watched – Surveillance Is Pervasive

Has Our Pervasive Interest In Celebrity Videos and Gossip Undervalued Celebrity Culture?