The Panoptykon Foundation was established in April 2009 upon the initiative of a group of engaged lawyers, to express their opposition to surveillance. After one year of after-hours voluntary work of two founders – Katarzyna Szymielewicz and Małgorzata Szumańska, the organisation received first project grants. Today, the Panoptykon Foundation is a well-integrated team of nine professionals, with a long-term strategy and a track record of significant successes in watchdog and educational activity.
You are here
ABOUT
Panoptykon Foundation
The Panoptykon Foundation was established in April 2009 upon the initiative of a group of engaged lawyers, to express their opposition to surveillance. Our mission is to protect fundamental rights and freedoms in the context of fast-changing technologies and growing surveillance.
Panopticon by Bentham
The name of the Panoptykon Foundation stemmed from the concept of a perfect prison, panopticon, developed by an utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham towards the end of 18th century. He designed a ring-shaped building divided into prisoners cells and a watchtower in the central point, where the observer could not be seen. This idea served as an inspiration for many closed institutions, that dynamically developed in the 19th century. For Michel Foucault it also proved to be a useful metaphor of the surrounding reality - something we call surveillance society.
Our mission
Our aim is to protect freedom and human rights in the surveillance society.
Our activities
We address the challenges posed by growing surveillance by monitoring & research, advocacy and education.