The project opens new scientific territory by foregrounding the “who” of surveillance - that we are not just observed objects, but also subjects who experience and practice surveillance. The health domain is particularly relevant to focus attention on, as it intersects with the broader surveillance landscape. By scrutinizing experiences and practices within the health domain, we can thus gain valuable insights into the broader implications and challenges of surveillance technologies across different domains.  

This research agenda challenges the notion of surveillance as a one-way exercise of power and views technologies as non-neutral, shaped by social contexts. Surveillance theory traditionally views it as a tool for enforcing power, whether through government control or individual self-regulation according to societal norms.

With the rise of digital technologies, however, the dynamics of surveillance have shifted. Today, surveillance isn't just the domain of authorities but also involves individuals and companies, creating new power relations. Data-intensive surveillance raises significant privacy concerns, as personal data is often controlled by private companies and used for profit.

The perspective of post-phenomenology can shed light on how technology and human interaction influence each other, suggesting that the impact of surveillance technologies depends on their context and use. This view challenges the notion that surveillance is simply a one-way exertion of power and highlights how technology is shaped by its social environment. It emphasizes the need to understand surveillance not just as a neutral tool with predetermined effects but as something influenced by ongoing social and technical interactions.