The Ethics of Surveillance

The Ethics of Surveillance: An Introduction offers a clear and comprehensive exploration of one of the most pressing ethical issues of our time. From government monitoring to everyday data collection, it tackles the moral dilemmas at the heart of surveillance in contemporary society.

Among the questions it addresses are:

Is it ever acceptable to spy on one’s allies?
Should the state intrude into private lives in the name of health or security?
What new ethical challenges arise from using AI for surveillance?
How far should journalists go in pursuit of the truth?
Can we really expect privacy in public spaces?
Is it ever justifiable for a parent to read their child’s diary?

This fully revised second edition includes fresh material on pandemic-era ‘track and trace’, and emerging technologies such as digital identity, AI and the Internet of Things.

Rich with case studies – including contemporary examples like ChatGPT and facial recognition – this book offers a philosophically grounded yet accessible entry point into a fast-evolving field. It is ideal reading for students and thoughtful readers across applied ethics, technology ethics, privacy, politics, journalism, security studies and human geography.

Author Biography

Kevin Macnish is a visiting research fellow at the University of Leeds and a former analyst with GCHQ and the US Department of Defense. He is a sought-after speaker and commentator, having addressed both Houses of the UK Parliament. He is co-editor of The Ethics of Surveillance in Times of Emergency (2023, with Adam Henschke), and Big Data and Democracy (2020, with Jai Galliott).