Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Government surveillance refers to the monitoring and collection of information on individuals by government authorities. It can involve various methods such as wiretapping, video surveillance, or data tracking.
Related terms
Privacy rights: The legal protections that safeguard an individual's right to keep their personal information private from government intrusion.
Mass surveillance: The widespread monitoring of a population by government agencies with the aim of gathering intelligence or preventing threats.
Metadata collection: The gathering of information about communication patterns (such as phone calls or internet usage) rather than the actual content exchanged.