But the established disciplinary mechanisms have been losing force since the 1950s. Here, the sense of personal identity is weakened and anonymity prevails. Video surveillance is an attempt to create modern panoptic mechanisms - being seen without seeing. In earlier times, these could only be established in enclosed spaces, but now they are being extended to open spaces frequented by increasingly mobile individuals. A control relationship is established.
Video surveillance is a form of behaviour control.
It not only deters criminals. At the same time, it modifies the behaviour of all concerned. The key factor is that the person under surveillance must be aware of being observed. This awareness creates the disciplinary relationship and induces him to adopt the required behaviour pattern. The effectiveness of the panoptic arrangement depends on the relationship of being seen without seeing.