As law enforcement authorities strive to combat crime in the Digital Age, the need for surveillance has become an important aspect of criminal investigations. In an era of increasingly sophisticated investigative tools, surveillance has become synonymous with the darker aspects of law enforcement. Rapid advances in technology have enabled the authorities to engage in large-scale observation of individuals without the need for direct physical observation. As discussed in this entry, there are many misconceptions about how surveillance fits into contemporary criminal investigations.

Definition of Surveillance

Surveillance has been defined as focused, systematic, and routine attempts to gain access to personal data with the intent of influencing, management, protection, or direction. This definition strives to take into account the historical underpinnings of surveillance and how the technique ...

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