Types of Surveillance: Exploring the Different Forms of Monitoring

Monitoring people or groups for the aim of acquiring information is the act of surveillance. Different organizations and agencies use different sorts of surveillance. The five basic categories of surveillance and their uses will be discussed in this section.

1. Physical surveillance: Human agents are used in physical surveillance to keep an eye on an individual or a group’s movements. It may involve tailing them on foot or in a car, keeping an eye on them from a distance, or even utilizing bugs or concealed cameras. In criminal investigations or to obtain information about potential terrorists, physical surveillance is frequently used. 2. Technical surveillance: Technical surveillance entails using electronic tools to keep an eye on an individual or a group’s actions. This may entail deploying GPS tracking devices, hacking into computers, or wiretapping phones. Law enforcement organizations frequently use technical surveillance to obtain information or intelligence.

3. Personal surveillance: Personal surveillance is keeping an eye on a person’s connections, financial situation, and behavior. The environment of corporate espionage or divorce lawsuits frequently employs this kind of surveillance. Observing online behavior, such as emails, social media posts, and browsing history, is known as cyber surveillance. This kind of surveillance is frequently employed to acquire information about potential hackers or to defend against online attacks.

5. Biometric surveillance: Biometric surveillance uses technology to keep track of a person’s physical traits, such as fingerprints or facial recognition. The identification of people in public places or border control frequently use this kind of monitoring.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is in charge of carrying out surveillance on behalf of the federal government in Canada. The agency is permitted to conduct a variety of operations, including personal, technical, and physical surveillance. Agents of the CSIS are not permitted to carry weapons, nevertheless.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada’s version of the FBI, is in charge of upholding federal laws and conducting organized crime, terrorism, and cybercrime investigations. While the RCMP also engages in surveillance, their objectives are broader than those of CSIS.

The pay for CSIS agents varies according on their position title and amount of experience. CSIS Intelligence Officers typically make roughly $85,000 per year, while CSIS Analysts might make about $72,000 per year, according to Glassdoor.

In conclusion, surveillance is an activity that has numerous facets and is complicated. Many companies and agencies utilize surveillance, whether it be physical, technical, personal, cyber, or biometric, for a variety of reasons, from conducting criminal investigations to preserving national security.

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