Surveillance and the law : language, power, and privacy / Maria Helen Murphy.

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York : Routledge, 2019.

vi, 98 pages ; 23 cm

"Surveillance of citizens is a clear manifestation of government power. The act of surveillance is generally deemed acceptable in a democratic society where it is necessary to protect the interests of the nation and where the power is exercised non-arbitrarily and in accordance with the law. [This book] analyses the core features of surveillance that create stark challenges for transparency and accountability by examining the relationship between language, power, and surveillance. It identifies a number of features of surveillance law, surveillance language, and the distribution of power that perpetuate the existing surveillance paradigm. Using case studies from the US, the UK, and Ireland, it assesses the techniques used to maintain the status quo of continued surveillance expansion. These jurisdictions are selected for their similarities, but also for their key constitutional distinctions, which influence how power is distributed and restrained in the different systems. Though the book maintains that the classic principles of transparency and accountability remain the best means available to limit the arbitrary exercise of government power, it evaluates how these principles could be better realised in order to restore power to the people and to maintain an appropriate balance between government intrusion and the right to privacy."-- Provided by publisher.

"Routledge Focus." -- Cover.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic version: Murphy, Maria Helen. Surveillance and the law. 1st. London : Routledge, 2018

K5480 .M87 2019

English

1138599905 hardback
9781138599901 hardback
9780429938801 (ePub ebook)
9780429938818 (PDF ebook)
9780429938795 (Mobipocket ebook)
9780429485466 (ebook)