Panoptic

Panoptic refers to a concept of pervasive surveillance, most famously described by philosopher Michel Foucault in his 1975 book *Discipline and Punish*. Foucault adapted the idea from Jeremy Bentham's design for a prison, the Panopticon. The Panopticon is a circular building with cells arranged around a central observation tower. Inmates in the cells can see the guard in the tower, but the guard cannot be seen by the inmates. This asymmetry of visibility creates a psychological effect where prisoners are encouraged to regulate their own behavior, assuming they are constantly being watched, even if no one is actually present in the tower.

The panoptic principle, therefore, describes a system where individuals are subjected to constant surveillance, leading to self-discipline and conformity. This concept has been extended beyond prisons to discuss modern surveillance technologies, such as CCTV cameras, the internet, and data collection. The idea is that the *potential* for being watched, rather than actual continuous observation, is enough to alter behavior. This creates a society where individuals internalize the gaze of authority, leading to a form of social control. The panoptic has become a significant term in discussions about power, control, and the erosion of privacy in contemporary society.