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When 1984 was published in 1949, George Orwell envisioned a world of constant surveillance, government control, and manipulated reality.

While fiction at the time, many of his predictions about tracking and data collection have become a reality today.

"Big Brother is Watching You." – George Orwell, 1984

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What is Tracking & Surveillance?

Tracking is the process of collecting data about a person’s activities, location, or behavior over time.

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Surveillance is the ongoing monitoring or observation of people, often by governments, companies, or institutions, to gather information.

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What is Tracking & Surveillance?

🔍 Happens Everywhere – Tracking and surveillance occur online, in stores, at school, on the streets, and through personal devices.

📱 Your Data is Valuable – Companies and governments collect data to sell products, provide services, and improve security.

⚠️ It Can Be Helpful or Harmful – Tracking can improve convenience (like location-based apps) but also raise privacy concerns.

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What are some ways your behaviors, activities or information are being tracked and monitored?

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Tracking your day

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  1. Type of Tracking: Cameras

Average person in U.S. photographed 75 times per day

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Type of Tracking: Cameras

As of 2020, the average American is recorded by security cameras approximately 238 times per week, which equates to about 34 times per day. This includes instances such as driving, being at school & work, shopping, and moving through public spaces.

studyfinds.org

Note that with the increasing prevalence of surveillance technology, these numbers may have risen in recent years.

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Type of Tracking: Cameras

Average person in U.S. photographed 34 times per day.

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Tracking: Cell Phone Cameras

According to SWNSDigital.com, A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that the average American takes about six photos per day using their smartphone.

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Tracking:

License Plate Databases and Street Cameras

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How tracking works: user profile (2:30)

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Tracking:

Online and Real World Shopping

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SURVEILLANCE

instagram

A data analyst with access to “anonymized” credit card transactions sees a map of someone’s purchases.

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Tracking:

Online and Real World Shopping

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Tracking: Online & Real World Shopping

  • On November 7, John went to Yogurtland to get frozen yogurt with his girlfriend; he made a post on X, added a ‘froyo’ emoji, and tagged his location.
  • On November 9, he went to Foot Locker and bought a pair of Chuck Taylor All-Stars; he was so excited about his new shoes that he wore them out of the store, and posted a geo-tagged photo to Instagram.

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Tracking: Online & Real World Shopping

  • With just these two data points — fixing John to two moments in space and time, the yogurt shop (11/7) and the shoe store (11/9) — the analysts are able to ‘narrow down’ the dataset: they find that there is one and only one person in the entire set who went to these two places on these two days.
  • Once John is ‘de-anonymized,’ the analysts have in their hands a detailed profile of his entire spending history — such as the fact that he also went shopping for groceries on November 7, how much he spent there, and so on.

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Tracking: Online Accounts & Social Media

Apps -- Snapchat, Instagram, BeReal., Tok tok, etc.

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Tracking:

Internet-connected Devices

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Types of Tracking & Surveillance

  • Cameras & Facial Recognition – Security cameras, traffic cameras, and AI-powered facial recognition systems in public and private spaces.
  • Internet Browsing & Online Behavior – Websites track clicks, searches, and interactions via cookies, ad trackers, and algorithms.
  • Online Accounts & Social Media – Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok collect extensive user data, including interactions, interests, and locations.
  • Online & Real-World Shopping – Retailers track purchases, browsing habits, and even in-store movements via Wi-Fi signals and loyalty programs.

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Types of Tracking & Surveillance

  • Device & Phone Location – GPS tracking, cell tower triangulation, and Bluetooth tracking in phones and wearable devices.
  • Apps & Browsers – Mobile apps and web browsers collect data on usage, locations, contacts, and even microphone access in some cases.
  • Internet-Connected Devices (IoT & Smart Home Tech) – Smart TVs, voice assistants (Alexa, Google Home), smart refrigerators, and wearables track user behavior.
  • Health & Medical Data – Fitness trackers (Fitbit, Apple Watch), electronic health records (EHRs), and insurance companies collecting health-related data.

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Types of Tracking & Surveillance

  • Financial Transactions & Banking – Credit card companies, banks, and payment processors track purchases, spending habits, and locations.
  • Employment & Workplace Monitoring – Keycard access, computer activity tracking, productivity monitoring software, and surveillance cameras in workplaces.
  • Government & Law Enforcement Surveillance – License plate readers, mass data collection, and NSA-like monitoring of communications.
  • Transportation Tracking – GPS tracking in cars, toll booth scanners, ride-sharing services (Uber/Lyft), and public transit surveillance.

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Types of Tracking & Surveillance

  • Education & School Surveillance – Proctoring software, school-issued devices, student activity monitoring, and even biometric tracking in some cases.
  • Biometric Data Collection – Fingerprint scans, facial recognition, iris scans, and even emotion detection in some cases.
  • Email & Messaging Surveillance – End-to-end encrypted messaging apps vs. those that log and scan communications for advertising or security purposes.
  • Smart Cities & Public Infrastructure – Sensors, environmental monitoring, and AI-driven traffic control systems that collect movement and behavior data.

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What data gets tracked?

Is Your Phone Spying on You?- CNN (5:45)

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Why/why not?

Should you be concerned about tracking/surveillance?

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Is Privacy Dead?

Is TikTok’s data collection dangerously different? (1:48)

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Is it influencing our ideas?

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Giving up privacy: is that okay?

In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, both major campaigns utilized a variety of data sources to inform their strategies and effectively target voters. Key sources of consumer and voter data included:

  1. Media Consumption Data: Insights into how different voter segments consume media enable campaigns to allocate advertising budgets effectively across television, radio, and digital platforms. Nielsen's 2024 Election Data Hub, for example, offers information on media consumption patterns.
  2. Commercial Data Brokers: Companies like Acxiom and Experian collect and sell consumer data, including purchasing habits, online behavior, and lifestyle preferences. Campaigns purchase this data to gain insights into voter interests and tailor their messaging accordingly.
  3. Social Media Platforms: Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide detailed analytics on user engagement, interests, and demographics. Campaigns leverage these insights to create targeted advertisements and engage with specific voter segments.

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The U.S. Constitution:

Bill of Rights

(Right to Privacy)

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  • The Fourth Amendment protects privacy against unreasonable searches
  • The Fifth Amendment protects against self- incrimination, which in turn protects the privacy of personal information

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Tracking & Surveillance Infographic

With a partner research one of the tracking and surveillance methods listed on the next slide.

Use Canva.com to create an infographic about

tracking & surveillance.

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Tracking & Surveillance Infographic

Cameras & Facial Recognition

Internet browsing & Online behavior

Online & Real-World Shopping

Online Accounts & Social Media

Financial Transactions & Banking

Employment & Workplace Monitoring

Government & Law Enforcement Surveillance

Transportation Tracking

Device & Phone Location

Apps & Browsers

Internet-Connected Devices (IoT & Smart Home Tech)

Health & Medical Data

Education & School Surveillance

Biometric Data Collection

Email & Messaging Surveillance

Smart Cities & Public Infrastructure

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Infographic should include:

Name & Definition

  • Clearly state the type of tracking/surveillance.
  • Provide a brief, concise description of what it is and how it works.

Real-World Example(s)

  • Include at least two specific examples of this type of tracking/surveillance in action.
  • One example should be from everyday life (e.g., security cameras in stores).
  • One example should show a larger impact (e.g., government surveillance).

Images & Visual Elements

  • Use relevant photos, icons, or illustrations that enhance understanding.

Statistics & Facts

  • Include at least one statistic or recent fact related to this type of tracking.

Potential Benefits & Concerns

  • Pros: How does this type of tracking help people, businesses, or security?
  • Cons: What are the privacy concerns or risks?

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