Introduction to Surveillance Studies

RADIO-WAVE SURVEILLANCE

KEY CONCEPTS

• character of radio-wave use and surveillance

• regulation of radio transmissions

• applications of radio-wave communication and surveillance

Introduction

Radio surveillance or, more correctly, radio‑wave surveillance, is one of the largest categories of surveillance next to visual surveillance and is strongly associated with audio surveillance through the broadcasting and interception of sounds transmitted through radio waves.

Radio waves travel invisibly through the air all around us and may pass through objects such as walls and furniture. They are frequently used in commercial and residential security systems and they enable computers to communicate with wireless routers. They can be bounced off ...