In Week 5 we examined Michel Foucault’s concept of panopticism and how it still helps explain modern forms of surveillance. In Discipline and Punish, Foucault describes the panopticon as a system of power where people regulate their own behaviour because they believe they might be watched. The important part of this system is not constant observation, but the possibility of it. When individuals assume they could be monitored at any moment, they begin to discipline themselves automatically.

This idea becomes even more relevant in the digital age through Siva Vaidhyanathan’s concept of the cryptopticon. Unlike the visible structure of the panopticon, the cryptopticon operates through hidden systems such as algorithms, data tracking, and platform surveillance. People often have little knowledge of who is collecting their data, what information is gathered, or how it may be used to shape their behaviour. Because these systems are largely invisible, surveillance becomes difficult to recognize and challenge.

Together, the readings show that modern surveillance rarely relies on physical control or force. Instead, it works through convenience, personalization, and participation. People willingly share information online, present themselves through digital platforms, and adjust their behaviour based on what they think others might see. As a result, surveillance becomes extremely efficient because individuals themselves help maintain the system.