Today, The Modern Digital #Panopticon: A Prison Without Walls
With the rise of technology, the panopticon has evolved into a more invisible and pervasive form:
Mass Surveillance: Governments and corporations collect data on nearly every aspect of life, from internet searches to financial transactions. Even if people aren’t directly observed, the possibility of being watched influences behaviour.
Social Media & Algorithmic Control: The way people present themselves online is shaped by unseen forces. Algorithms decide what content is promoted or suppressed, nudging public opinion and self-expression.
AI & Predictive Policing: Machine learning analyses behaviours to predict criminal activity before it happens, reinforcing präemptive control rather than reactionary punishment.
CBDCs and Financial Surveillance: If governments control digital currencies, they could theoretically monitor and restrict transactions, creating a financial form of panoptic governance.
In this modern context, Bentham’s prison has no visible bars, but people still act as though they are inside one. Adjusting their actions, speech, and even thoughts to fit into an acceptable framework.