Anthropology of Surveillance
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From cell phones to social media, rarely is there a moment when we are not under some form of surveillance. In the class Anthropology of Surveillance, students learn about the scope of surveillance and the methods that are used to collect information about and track everyday people, while also examining how constant surveillance affects individuals and society as a whole.
— Shari Jacobson
“We need to learn more about the degree to which our data are being scraped and then monetized … and decide whether all of this is appropriate for life in a democratic society.”
“Many of us have had that experience of saying something near our smart phone and an hour or two later noticing a related ad in a feed,” says Shari Jacobson, associate professor of anthropology and department head of sociology and anthropology. “We need to learn more about the degree to which our data are being scraped and then monetized — from our internet searches, our Ring doorbells, our ‘smart’ refrigerators, the license-plate readers we pass, the facial recognition technologies we consent to, the cell phone tower ‘pings’ we prompt, and the geofenced areas we enter — and decide whether all of this is appropriate for life in a democratic society.”
Students study specific topics of surveillance, such as personal privacy or surveillance in other countries, with the goal of learning how that topic relates to their personal lives. Students use the assigned readings and projects as resources while taking advantage of the small class size to facilitate discussions.
Jennifer Stahley ’25, an anthropology and history double major, said the course gave her the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions about privacy, security and resistance strategies.
“My experience with this course will profoundly impact my academic and professional career,” Stahley says. “I’ll approach topics with a sharper lens for analyzing power dynamics, cultural implications and the ethical dimensions of systems and practices.”
Anthropology major Amanda Welde ’26, of Danville, Pennsylvania, found that the course expanded her critical thinking skills and knowledge base, and contributed to her decision to major in anthropology.
“We talked about all types of surveillance, but learning about how private companies collect our data to influence our actions changed how I view human behavior,” Welde says. “It led me to evaluate how my own choices have been shaped by corporate surveillance.”
