Post #8: "Surveillance Environments"

I found the article "Sousveillance: Inventing and Using Wearable Computing Devices for Data Collection in Surveillance Environments" by Steve Mann, Jason Nolan and Barry Wellman while doing research for my final paper. In the article, they examine what kind of technology the average citizen can arm themselves with in order to conduct their own sousveillance on higher powers.
They define sousveillance as being a form of "reflectionism": procedures of using technology to mirror and confront bureaucratic organizations. Most organizations can easily keep their eyes on their employees by using cameras or monitoring what websites they visit on company computers. If employees were to arm themselves with technology to take surveillance into their own hands, this would restore the delicate balance of power.
Mann and company say that privacy is a psychological as well as a social and political requirement. Surveillance is most certainly a power struggle. If someone has access to your personal activities and can encourage you to change them, they have dominance over you.
I think it's interesting that Mann and company suggest having cell phones or cameras JUST for the sole purpose of sousveillance. I think it's safe to say that these devices were initially created for personal fun (as well as gimmick to make money I'm sure).
Now I wonder if this idea will ever become the norm. Will employees and everyday citizens chose to become part of the sousveillance culture? Will it be commonplace for employees and customers to watch and criticize higher powers? More importantly, will the power struggle ever end?
I think this sums up their article well: “You're surveilling the surveillance. And if everyone were surveilling the surveillance, the surveillance would be neutralized. It would be unnecessary.”