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Mass Surveillance
Privacy
Broad collection and analysis of data about populations for intelligence or control purposes.
Definition
Mass surveillance refers to large-scale data collection and analysis covering broad populations, including metadata, content, and sensor data, often enabled by telecommunications and platform infrastructure.
In plain English
Broad collection and analysis of data about populations for intelligence or control purposes.
Why this matters
Why it matters: It can create systemic privacy risks, misuse potential, and chilling effects beyond individual cases.
Example
Example: Bulk collection of metadata used to map social networks and communication patterns.