Law enforcement and intelligence agencies use surveillance tools that are online to track, record, and analyze digital activity. These include software programs for online security as well as hardware cameras that connect to a server to store and manage information. Surveillance systems help investigators locate a suspect’s location, determine their physical characteristics, and detect any suspicious behavior. They can also be used to determine possible sabotage or theft of sensitive information.

Governments must ensure that the design and procurement of surveillance technologies, as well as their use and operation are guided by human rights and privacy principles. This includes protecting the autonomy of individuals and limiting data collection and storage. This means establishing clear limits on the amount of data collected, ensuring that such technology is only deployed when it is required and appropriate to achieve legitimate goals within a specific context, and providing access to legal advice for those concerned about their use.

Human rights groups believe that the widespread use of these technologies could eb design air cause police officers to abuse their discretion and power. US agencies have used surveillance software, such as facial recognition or social media mining to identify travelers, citizens, and protesters in public places.

BrickHouse Security offers a variety of counter surveillance devices to secure privacy and avoid unwanted surveillance. These range from portable detectors that can scan an area for hidden cameras in seconds to white noise masking devices that block recording devices from picking up the sounds.