The Ethics of Surveillance
An Introduction
2nd Edition
Published on 27. November 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-032-82504-5 (ISBN)
Description
The Ethics of Surveillance: An Introduction offers a clear and comprehensive exploration of one of the most pressing ethical issues of our time. From government monitoring to everyday data collection, it tackles the moral dilemmas at the heart of surveillance in contemporary society.
Among the questions it addresses are:
Is it ever acceptable to spy on one's allies?
Should the state intrude into private lives in the name of health or security?
What new ethical challenges arise from using AI for surveillance?
How far should journalists go in pursuit of the truth?
Can we really expect privacy in public spaces?
Is it ever justifiable for a parent to read their child's diary?
This fully revised second edition includes fresh material on pandemic-era 'track and trace', and emerging technologies such as digital identity, AI and the Internet of Things.
Rich with case studies - including contemporary examples like ChatGPT and facial recognition - this book offers a philosophically grounded yet accessible entry point into a fast-evolving field. It is ideal reading for students and thoughtful readers across applied ethics, technology ethics, privacy, politics, journalism, security studies and human geography.
Among the questions it addresses are:
Is it ever acceptable to spy on one's allies?
Should the state intrude into private lives in the name of health or security?
What new ethical challenges arise from using AI for surveillance?
How far should journalists go in pursuit of the truth?
Can we really expect privacy in public spaces?
Is it ever justifiable for a parent to read their child's diary?
This fully revised second edition includes fresh material on pandemic-era 'track and trace', and emerging technologies such as digital identity, AI and the Internet of Things.
Rich with case studies - including contemporary examples like ChatGPT and facial recognition - this book offers a philosophically grounded yet accessible entry point into a fast-evolving field. It is ideal reading for students and thoughtful readers across applied ethics, technology ethics, privacy, politics, journalism, security studies and human geography.
Reviews / Votes
Praise for the first edition:'Ours is a world where surveillance is too often justified on a good guy vs bad guy, simplistic, paradigm. Macnish demonstrates the complexities in the ethics of surveillance in a thoughtful and comprehensive book that warrants careful reading by developers, users and subjects of surveillance alike.' - Eric Stoddart, University of St. Andrews, UK
'This book provides a compelling introduction to the wide range of ethical issues raised by the ever-present surveillance technologies that are characteristic of our world. In this lucid and philosophically sophisticated text, Kevin Macnish considers the implications of not only government espionage, but also the surveillance undertaken in the pursuit of national security, commercial competition and excellence in education and, further, demonstrates the numerous ways in which the practice of surveillance raises fundamental questions for social and political philosophers.' - Adrian Walsh, University of New England, Australia Praise for the first edition:
'Ours is a world where surveillance is too often justified on a good guy vs bad guy, simplistic, paradigm. Macnish demonstrates the complexities in the ethics of surveillance in a thoughtful and comprehensive book that warrants careful reading by developers, users and subjects of surveillance alike.'
Eric Stoddart, University of St. Andrews, UK
'This book provides a compelling introduction to the wide range of ethical issues raised by the ever-present surveillance technologies that are characteristic of our world. In this lucid and philosophically sophisticated text, Kevin Macnish considers the implications of not only government espionage, but also the surveillance undertaken in the pursuit of national security, commercial competition and excellence in education and, further, demonstrates the numerous ways in which the practice of surveillance raises fundamental questions for social and political philosophers.'
Adrian Walsh, University of New England, Australia
More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate, Professional Practice & Development, and Undergraduate Advanced
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
389 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-82504-5 (9781032825045)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 11/2025
2nd Edition
Routledge
€207.70
Not yet published
E-Book
11/2025
2nd Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
E-Book
11/2025
2nd Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Previous edition
Book
07/2017
1st Edition
Routledge
€56.00
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Kevin Macnish is a visiting research fellow at the University of Leeds and a former analyst with GCHQ and the US Department of Defense. He is a sought-after speaker and commentator, having addressed both Houses of the UK Parliament. He is co-editor of The Ethics of Surveillance in Times of Emergency (2023, with Adam Henschke), and Big Data and Democracy (2020, with Jai Galliott).
Content
Acknowledgements Preface to Second Edition Introduction Part 1: Introducing the Ethics of Surveillance 1. History of Thought on Surveillance and the Ethics of Surveillance 2. The Wrongs of Surveillance 3. Key Ethical Issues in Surveillance 4. Emerging Technologies of Surveillance Part 2: Applied Contexts 5. International Espionage 6. National Security 7. Police 8. Social Welfare 9. Commercial Uses 10. Journalism 11. Workplace Surveillance 12. Surveillance in Public Places 13. The Vulnerable 14. Surveillance in Research. Conclusion Index