People Have Sharp Eyes: Consequences of Participatory Digital Surveillance

Abstract

Why do some autocracies combine digital monitoring with in-person surveillance? This study introduces the theory of participatory digital surveillance, arguing that citizen involvement in surveillance addresses the limitations of both traditional and digital methods. By equipping grassroots informants with digital monitoring tools, regimes can enhance surveillance efficacy and expand state capacity at the local level. Advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) also allow for more covert repression, reducing the legitimacy costs of surveillance. This integration, while stabilizing the regime, fosters social distrust by mobilizing citizens into mutual surveillance. I examine this theory through China's Sharp Eyes Project, a digital initiative that leverages citizen participation to reinforce social control. Findings reveal that the program promotes social stability by reducing crime rates and increasing neighborhood reporting through digital platforms, while also eroding neighborly trust. Additionally, the Sharp Eyes Project minimizes the legitimacy costs of surveillance by exerting limited impact on political trust. This study contributes to the literature on digital repression and highlights a key dilemma in authoritarian survival: while mass mobilization for stability may bolster control, it risks undermining long-term stability through eroded social trust.

Keywords: Surveillance, Digital authoritarianism, Public participation, Chinese politics, Digital repression, Social control, Crime rates