New Zealand's place in the changing world of surveillance

New book explores New Zealand's place in the changing world of surveillance

'The post-Snowden world is one in which we accept surveillance as part of what enables us to be free. Behind the scenes, however, a global range of political and economic institutions, networks, actors and entities are working hard to normalise these conditions so they remain to our liking.' – Kathleen Kuehn

Surveillance after Snowden, as Kathleen Kuehn demonstrates in this penetrating new BWB Text, is ubiquitous and complex. How does it operate, who are the principle actors, to what ends and what is to be done about it? These are just a few of the many searching questions at the heart of this urgent but level-headed inquiry. And they are posed as much to frame the sorts of conversations we need to have, as to offer easy answers.

As part of this, Kuehn persuasively punctures some of the more prevalent, and glib, ‘certainties’ of the conspiracy-oriented observer: an Orwellian view of the world in which ‘power is concentrated in a centralised totalitarian state that directly controls our lives’ is, she argues, well past its use-by date.

The much more complex reality is that today, in New Zealand and internationally, the private sector is deeply intertwined in a web of information gathering, as are we all, personally. Indeed, it is our use of smartphones, tablets, social networks – our increasing participation in digital networking and e-commerce – that nourishes a new and growing culture of surveillance, one which challenges our traditional notions of privacy and freedom.

In the context of the world-changing events of 9/11, the perceived heightened risks of sophisticated terror groups, and globalised ‘spy’ networks – the Five Eyes programme, for example – and the growth of ‘big data’, she neatly summarises the conundrum we all face:

'Mass surveillance in a post-Snowden world is, therefore, not just a story about the state. No longer characteristic of authoritarian, non-democratic regimes, it involves the routine collection, storage, analysis and use of personal data by a variety of people, organisations and institutions. The era of ubiquitous surveillance is one in which citizens and consumers are encouraged to see their active participation as beneficial, in the name of national security and economic efficiency.’

The complexity of the modern surveillance environment and our own complicity as consumers within it does complicate our potential responses. But if we value our roles in free and democratic societies, even if we must continually re-evaluate and recalibrate precisely what this means, then it should not deter us from informing ourselves and asking questions. In this respect The Post-Snowden Era: Mass Surveillance and Privacy in New Zealand is an invaluable primer, for experts and novices alike. As Nicky Hager, whose own work is cited – not always uncritically – within its pages, writes:

'Surveillance is confusing. Should we give up on expecting privacy because we’re all being watched, or stop worrying because it’s all exaggerated? Actually, neither of those is right. A much better idea is to find a book that is sane, well researched and easy to read, so you understand, don’t fear needlessly, and can do something about the things that are wrong. A book like this one.’

ends

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