Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS)
COST Action IS0807
Technologically mediated surveillance - the systematic and purposeful attention to the
lives of individuals or groups utilising new ICTs - is a ubiquitous feature of modern
European society with citizens routinely monitored by a range of sophisticated
technologies. Increasing levels of surveillance are typically justified by the threat of
terrorism, crime and disorder, and to improve public and private services. But what do
we know about the depth of personal surveillance or how our personal information is
used? Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS) is a European research programme designed
to increase and deepen knowledge about living and working in the surveillance age, in
order to better understand the consequences and impacts of enhanced surveillance, and
subsequently to make recommendations about its future governance and practice.
The LiSS programme has facilitated an interdisciplinary international network of
academic surveillance experts and has generated important knowledge for citizens,
government, public agencies and private sector. It has raised awareness of surveillance
in society and helped inform improved surveillance policy and practice across Europe.
The four year programme, which started in spring 2009, is funded by COST (European
Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research). It facilitates thematic
collaborative research in the field of technologically mediated surveillance through a
series of active working groups, workshops, seminars, annual conferences and a dedicated
website. The programme also supports short-term scientific missions and a doctoral
school for young researchers in the field. To date, this collaborative venture has attracted
over 150 participants from 26 countries. Detailed information about the Action can be
found on the LiSS website, the COST LiSS website and in the LiSS ‘Memorandum of
Understanding’.
Professor WilliamWebster, Chair of the LiSS COST Action:
Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA.
Tel: 01786 467359, Email:
Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS) Website:
/
Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS) COST Website:
LiSS Memorandum of Understanding:
=
fileadmin/domain_files/ISCH/Action_IS0807/mou/IS0807-e.pdf
COST (European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research):
/
COST is supported by the EU RTD
Framework Programme
