Internet
Cookie
Small files that allow websites to identify a computer and manage sessions
Closed-circuit television (CCTV)
A system of video cameras that sends signals to a limited number of monitors.
Encryption
The process of converting data into a scrambled code that requires a key.
Hacker
A person or program that gets into a computer system without permission.
Intelligence Agency
A government agency that gathers intelligence for national security (e.g., CIA).
Internet History
A list of web pages a user has visited, including titles and times.
Facial recognition
Technology that identifies a person by comparing their image to a database.
Tracking device
An electronic device that allows someone to monitor a person’s location.
Data broker
A company or individual that collects and sells personal data to advertisers.
Investigation
the process of gathering data about a situation or person for a court case.
IP address
A unique string of characters that identifies each computer on a network.
Emotion recognition
Facial recognition tech that attempts to assign feelings to expressions.
Virtual private network (VPN)
A network that protects users by encrypting data and masking IP addresses.
Surveillance capitalism
The economic system that relies on harvesting and monetizing personal data.
Biometric data
Data related to the physical body, such as fingerprints or DNA samples.
Keylogging
When a website monitors what a user types before they hit "enter" or "submit."
Mass surveillence
Collecting and monitoring information about a population without their consent.
Obscurity
The idea that personal data is safer when it is difficult to find or interpret.
Data breach
A security incident where unauthorized users gain access to private information.
Defendant
A person, company, or institution who is accused of a crime in court.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The connection between computing devices in objects like cars and appliances.
Face surveillance
Facial recognition technology that identifies faces in moving images or video.
Smart device
An electronic device that is wirelessly connected and interacts with users.
Census
A count of all people and households in a nation, often taken every 10 years.
Police brutality
When officers use excessive or unnecessary force against a person or group.