BOOK//MASS SURVEILLANCE

BRIEF: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights. Research project on one of the chosen topics within the organisation resulting in the further development of two posters.

INSIGHT: Human Rights Declaration in Article 8 says: «Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and correspondence.» In 2013, we faced the global surveillance disclosure thanks to Edward Snowden. Getting more familiar with Snowden’s story, I was shocked by the many ways government and other corporates use the advantage of new technologies to control population.

WOULD YOU AGREE THAT YOUR LIFE IS PRIVATE? I GUESS, NO.

Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and correspondence. This right is subject to proportionate and lawful restrictions. The concept of a right to a private life encompasses the importance of personal dignity and autonomy and the interaction a person has with others, both in private or in public.

//Respect for private and confidential information, particularly the storing and sharing of such information.

//The right not to be subject to unlawful state surveillance.

//The right to control the dissemination of information about one’s private life, including photographs taken covertly.

I was curious to investigate the issue of mass surveillance deeper. The way other people such as artists, designers, or scientists react to the problem. The way we can stop it and the way we can protect our rights for private life.

The aim of the project was to create a poster for Amnesty International . While developing the posters, I tried to remind what is privacy as well as imagined our life in a few years time.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Personally, I have mixed feelings to the subject. On the one hand, surveillance - in the form of easy digital access to one exact person and CCTV cameras on every corner - make me believe that government protects us this way, and at some point it really does. How many terrorists, murders, burglars were found with the help of these technologies.

On the other hand, surveillance clearly goes much further. Every move you make, every journey, each pair of trousers you buy, film you watched week ago, friend you have just called - it can be tracked. Moreover, it can be monitored without one’s acknowledgment. Apparently, this does not match with the declaration of human rights. Article 8 says: «Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and correspondence.»

Thereby, I was curious to investigate the issue of mass surveillance deeper. The way other people such as artists, designers, or scientists react to the problem. The way we can stop it and the way we can protect our rights for private life. The aim of the project was to create a poster for Amnesty International. While developing the posters, I tried to remind what is privacy as well as imagined our life in a few years time.