Living with Digital Surveillance in China: Citizens' Narratives on Technology, Privacy, and Governance

In China, digital surveillance is a pervasive reality, and this book explores how Chinese citizens navigate and make sense of it. It investigates their imaginaries about surveillance and privacy within the Chinese socio-political system, de-Westernizing the internet and surveillance literature. The research participants weave a complex system of narratives, balancing concerns with the government and technology as civilizing forces. Despite the widespread acceptance of digital surveillance, participants express misgivings and employ mental tactics to distance themselves from it. The book is intended for academics, students, and the lay public interested in technology and China.

Format: Hardback
Length: 322 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Digital surveillance is an inescapable aspect of daily life in China, permeating every facet of society. In this comprehensive book, Ariane Ollier-Malaterre delves into the complex ways in which Chinese citizens navigate and cope with the pervasive presence of digital surveillance. Through in-depth qualitative research interviews, detailed diary notes, and extensive documentation, the author aims to challenge the Western-centric lens on internet and surveillance literature.

Ollier-Malaterre's research reveals how the study participants construct a cohesive narrative framework that juxtaposes anguishing accounts of China's moral shortcomings with redeeming narratives about the government and technology as civilizing forces. While many participants view digital surveillance as an indispensable tool in China, their reservations, objections, and mental tactics to distance themselves from surveillance underscore the profound emotional toll associated with being subjected to such surveillance.

The book appeals to a wide audience, including academics and students specializing in internet, surveillance, and Chinese studies, as well as those engaged in research on China across various disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, social psychology, psychology, communication, computer sciences, contemporary history, and political sciences. The author's accessible writing style, coupled with the synthesis of sinologist research and numerous interview excerpts, makes the book accessible to the lay public interested in the implications of technology in daily life or in contemporary China.

In conclusion, Digital Surveillance in China: Imaginaries and Practices offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of digital surveillance in a global context. By exploring the experiences and perspectives of Chinese citizens, the book sheds light on the complex ways in which individuals navigate and make sense of a surveillance-driven society. It provides valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and the broader public interested in the intersection of technology, society, and power.

Weight: 790g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032517742