Tag Archives: Surveillance

09Jan/26

The Vigilance Blueprint: A Framework for Community-Led Counter-Surveillance

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — This initiative, modeled on the Surveillance Watch concept, empowers citizens to transition from passive subjects of monitoring to active participants in privacy oversight. By leveraging a decentralized network of volunteers, the project creates a high-resolution, grassroots map of surveillance infrastructure—such as facial recognition cameras, license plate readers, and cell-site simulators. The framework addresses the inherent risks of community activism (such as data inaccuracy and volunteer safety) Continue reading

08Jan/25

$315 Billion Biometric Digital Identity Market

Jan. 7, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ —  The Prism Project’s report on the biometric digital identity market projects a $315 billion revenue opportunity by 2024, driven by increasing adoption across various sectors. Key findings highlight significant growth in biometric and digital identity transactions globally, alongside challenges and opportunities within the industry.
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12Jan/24

Facial recognition in Brazil: absent students and racial bias

By Diana Baptista | Data Journalist

A facial recognition system used in schools in Brazil is being scrutinised by digital rights groups, who have denounced the expansion of so-called techno control in the country. Continue reading

06Oct/23

Exporting surveillance to Africa

By Kim Harrisberg | South Africa correspondent

Privacy experts are calling for citizens to be protected from growing surveillance in Africa, following a new report by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN).

Their report, “Mapping the supply of surveillance technologies to Africa” focuses on Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Malawi and Zambia importing surveillance tech from countries including the U.S., Britain, China, Israel as well as the EU amounting to more than $1bn every year. Continue reading

20Sep/23

Surveillance in the age of WhatsApp webinar by the London Stock Exchange Group of companies (LSEG)

The key takeaways of the “Surveillance in the age of WhatsApp” webinar by the London Stock Exchange Group of companies (LSEG) are as follows: Continue reading

26Jul/23

São Paulo fights facial recognition

By Diana Baptista | Data Journalist

Digital rights groups in Brazil protested against Smart Sampa, a government program seeking to install 20,000 security cameras with facial recognition technology in São Paulo by 2024.

Using drones, the groups projected slogans like “No More Invasive Surveillance” and “Respect our Rights” on building walls. Continue reading

03Mar/23

ID of 93 million Nigerians at risk in landmark election

  • Facial recognition and fingerprints needed to cast votes
  • Privacy experts fear mass breach of Nigerians’ identity
  • Aim is to root out widespread electoral fraud

LAGOS – Africa’s biggest electorate votes on Saturday in a poll that experts fear could unleash a mass breach of privacy as Nigerians relinquish reams of personal data to cast their vote.
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03Mar/23

Snooping on campaigners

By Kim Harrisberg | South Africa correspondent

From phishing traps to arrests based on their social media posts alone, activists from Russia to Uganda say they’re increasingly being watched for their online campaigning.
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19Jan/23

Digital welfare dystopia

By Samuel Woodhams | Digital rights researcher and journalist

Algorithms to determine welfare payments and detect fraud are becoming standard practice around the world. From Manchester to Melbourne, peoples’ lives are being shaped by secretive tools that determine who is eligible for what, and how much debt is owed.

Although the technology has been around for some time, the outbreak of COVID-19 renewed enthusiasm for the digital welfare state and, for thousands of cash-strapped public bodies, the promise of increased efficiency and lower costs has proven irresistible.
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28Nov/22

Gangs, drill music, and police databases

The Met has overhauled its ‘Gangs Violence Matrix’ database following a legal challenge by human rights organisation, Liberty. The tool is used by the police force to identify and monitor people suspected of being involved in gang-related crime.
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