Digital Surveillance in Southern Africa: Policies, Politics and Practices

This book critically examines the manifest and latent practices of surveillance in the southern African region, using case studies from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique. It demonstrates the growing role of superpowers in the construction and normalization of the surveillance state, tracing the digitization of surveillance practices to the rapid adoption of smart CCTV, facial recognition technologies, and EMSI catchers. The authors argue that surveillance practices have digitized with deleterious impacts on the right to privacy, peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression in the region, and that specific laws and regulations governing surveillance practices are lagging behind. Furthermore, the book demonstrates how digital surveillance has significantly infiltrated the political, economic, and social fabric of Southern Africa.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book delves into the profound and multifaceted practices of surveillance in the southern African region, utilizing a rich array of case studies from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique. Through meticulous analysis, it uncovers the escalating influence of superpowers in the establishment and normalization of the surveillance state. The book traces the evolution of surveillance practices to the rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as smart CCTV, facial recognition systems, and EMSI catchers. These advancements have facilitated the digitization of surveillance, enabling state security agencies to employ predictive policing mechanisms. These mechanisms involve the utilization of digital media technologies for sentiment analysis, the constant monitoring of security targets' digital footprints, and even the deployment of cyber-troops on popular social media platforms.

The authors argue that this digitization of surveillance practices has had a detrimental impact on the region's right to privacy, peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression. Furthermore, they contend that specific laws and regulations governing surveillance practices in the region are lagging behind, leaving gaps that allow for the abuse and misuse of surveillance powers.

In conclusion, this book offers a vital and timely contribution to the field of surveillance studies. It provides a systematic exploration of the trends, practices, policies, and geo-political interests that shape surveillance practices in the southern African region. By bridging the gap between human rights, such as privacy and expression, and political authoritarianism, it offers a crucial lens through which to understand the complex dynamics of power and control in this region. This book is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in understanding the evolving landscape of surveillance in the world.

Weight: 413g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031166358
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022