Souseveillance In Our Global Society

The advancement of technology has greatly influenced the level of privacy we can enjoy.  With these advancements, there are two types of privacy that have emerged: surveillance and souseveillance.  Surveillance relates to people being watched from above.  Most stores you shop in now have surveillance cameras placed throughout the store.  There is usually someone behind the cameras watching the shoppers and employees, keeping a close eye on all.  It is evident when one goes to Las Vegas that their every move is being monitored by surveillance cameras.  It can easily be assumed that there is a team of people in the building watching your every move.  These surveillance cameras create a constant sense that someone is watching you.
  
Souseveillance is the idea that people are being watched from below.  This is a increasingly common theme in organizations as employees are monitoring the behaviors and performance of their superiors. Another example of souseveillance is when the public monitors and judges the actions of law enforcement.  Normally, law enforcement keeps a watchful eye on the community, and now communities are actively monitoring them.  A prime example of this is the notorious beating of Rodney King caught on video by civilians. Beware, here is a gruesome video of the Rodney King beating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssg2IkIhbxU  

The definition of privacy is changing as more technological advances make way.  Cell phones now have video cameras, making it easier for people to record anything they choose. People can be filmed at any time without being aware that someone is watching.  These videos can then be placed online for others to view while the subjects are completely unaware that the videos even exist. And now popular sites like YouTube make it very easy to post videos online, further reducing ones level of privacy.  People are being watched all the time and there is definitely more souseveillance than surveillance in our global society.