general surveillance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "general surveillance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing monitoring or observation practices, often related to security or data collection. Example: "The government has implemented general surveillance measures to ensure public safety and security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

The general surveillance of civilians is different from the surveillance of journalists and government officials but the issues and the tools used are related.

The New Yorker

During the Soviet era the KGB's responsibilities also included the protection of the country's political leadership, the supervision of border troops, and the general surveillance of the population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(This went into overdrive after the terrible Soham murders. A key fact there – nothing to do with general surveillance – was that Huntley's references, which would have uncovered a previous incident of child abuse, were not fully checked by the school).

The Guardian - Opinion

Pierre-Olivier Sur, chairman of the Paris bar lawyers' association, warned this week that the bill was "a serious threat to public liberties" and would put French people under "general surveillance".

The Guardian

On July 6th the New York Times reported that as well as ruling on specific operations the court has been handing down classified decisions on general surveillance issues, many of them favourable to the spies.

The Economist

The release of the "multimedia" records of the protests, Donohue said, also could reveal "the kinds of optical technology NYPD uses, both in its undercover and general surveillance operations" and "any areas NYPD does not have under surveillance, thereby exposing gaps in coverage".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

In general, syndromic surveillance offers earlier detection of infectious diseases than traditional surveillance.

BioMed Research International

The trial was designed to assess whether general practice surveillance affected patient-specific QoL and cost-effectiveness compared to surgeon-led surveillance [ 9].

BMC Health Services Research

Calculating and ranking crude incidence density (ID) rates is one of a number of standard quantitative evaluations used in event monitoring methodology for signal generation purposes as part of initial inspection of all event data for general safety surveillance.

Drug Safety

Ming provincial governments consisted of three coordinate agencies with specialized responsibilities for general administration, surveillance and judicial affairs, and military affairs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This week, Mr. Ashcroft changed the attorney general's surveillance guidelines, which will allow special agents in charge of field offices to begin criminal investigations without the express approval of headquarters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify the purpose and scope of the "general surveillance" to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "general surveillance" when referring to targeted or specific monitoring activities. Using the term incorrectly can mislead readers about the true extent and nature of the surveillance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "general surveillance" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act of broadly monitoring an area or population, as demonstrated in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "general surveillance" is a noun phrase referring to broad monitoring practices, often related to security, public health, or environmental oversight. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it carries a neutral to formal tone. Ethical implications regarding privacy should be considered when using this term. Alternatives like "comprehensive monitoring" or "widespread observation" can be used depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprehensive monitoring

Focuses on the thoroughness of the monitoring process.

widespread observation

Emphasizes the broad scope of the observation.

blanket monitoring

Implies monitoring covers everything without exception.

mass supervision

Highlights the large scale of the supervisory activities.

overall vigilance

Stresses the constant and comprehensive state of alertness.

total oversight

Focuses on the complete control and review aspect.

systematic observation

Suggests a methodical and organized approach to observation.

across-the-board monitoring

Indicates monitoring that applies to all areas or individuals.

global scrutiny

Implies intense and thorough examination on a worldwide scale.

universal monitoring

Highlights monitoring applied to everyone or everything.

FAQs

How is "general surveillance" typically implemented in practice?

"General surveillance" is often implemented through technologies like CCTV cameras, data analytics, and network monitoring, used to observe populations or systems for security or monitoring purposes.

What are some of the ethical concerns associated with "general surveillance"?

Ethical concerns include potential violations of privacy, the risk of profiling and discrimination, and the chilling effect on free expression and assembly. It's important to consider the impact on individual liberties.

What's the difference between "general surveillance" and "targeted surveillance"?

"General surveillance" involves monitoring broad populations or areas, while "targeted surveillance" focuses on specific individuals or groups suspected of wrongdoing.

What can I say instead of "general surveillance"?

Alternatives include "comprehensive monitoring", "widespread observation", or "overall vigilance", depending on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.