Surveillance with Digital Equipment

Surveillance is art of keeping an eye on the object. In the past decades there has been a huge technical advancement and as a result of which today surveillance is carried out mainly with the help of digitised instruments such as Close Circuit Televisions, Electronic Trails, Photography, tapping of telephone s and mobiles, and other surveillance devices such as “bugs”, radio transmitters etc.

Photography had gained a lot of importance during the earlier stages of digital surveillance and today as well photography serves an important method of surveillance. The photographs and videos taken at public places give a clear picture of public behaviour after a certain event has occurred. For example the videos taken after an earthquake provide a good reference when public awareness is to be created about the steps to be taken after an earthquake. Also the photographs and videos serve as great proof during prosecution.

Taping of phone calls is another surveillance tool. Whenever we make a call from our mobiles or otherwise the telecom companies make a record of time, duration and the number to which the call has been made. Moreover the police and the military department of any country have a contract with the telecom companies to tap the call. Another interesting thing about the mobiles is that the telecom companies can trace the caller to its exact location with the help of tools like the GPS (Global Positioning System).

Digital surveillance is also carried out by tracing not only the telephone calls but also the mails which we send, whether it is electronic or not. The manual post which is sent through the post office can be intercepted at the post office. Although it may sound impossible but the electronic mails can be intercepted if required. When the e-mail passes through a server it can intercepted over there.