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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.

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.

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.

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. The idea of a ring-shaped building divided into prisoners' cells and a watchtower in the central point, where the guard could never be seen, served as an inspiration for the creators of closed institutions, that dynamically developed in the 19th century. For Michel Foucault it also proved to be a useful metaphor of how power operated in the society. In his opinion, the panoptical model of power not only thrived behind the walls of barracks, hospitals or schools, but became common in the outside world, affecting our everyday life. Thus, the concept of the surveillance society was born.

Since Bentham (and Foucault) much has changed in the surrounding world. However, the vision of the perfect surveillance machinery developed over two centuries ago is still stirring the imagination of those who dream about a reality in which everything is under control. Panopticon in the name of our organization is a reminder of the dark side of contemporary surveillance and a warning before diverting into the path we do not want to follow.

Our mission

Our aim is to protect freedom and human rights in the surveillance society.

Our aim is to protect freedom and human rights in the surveillance society. We diagnose threats resulting from surveillance practices, intervene in the cases of abuse, develop alternative legislative solutions, stimulate critical reflection and encourage action for change.

Our activities

We address the challenges posed by growing surveillance by monitoring & research, advocacy and education.

We address the challenges posed by growing surveillance by monitoring & research, advocacy and education.

Monitoring & Research

We gather knowledge on contemporary forms of surveillance, we try to understand the manner of their functioning and the consequences for the society and the individual. We analyze available publications, research results, news. We actively use our right to access public information (FOIA requests). We cooperate with experts, academics and initiate our own surveys.

In cooperation with experts from the domains of law and new technologies, we have prepared a series of analyses concerning Internet regulation. We also conducted the research concerning the attitude of the Polish society to surveillance. Our current research projects include the topic of video monitoring (CCTV), making use of telecommunications data by public institutions and the ways of dealing with "unwanted" content online by state authorities and private companies.

Advocacy

Our watchdog or advocacy activity is a complex process with one ultimate goal: to increase social control over surveillance practices and policies. We take a closer look at the binding laws, the legislative process, the activities of public authorities and private companies. We follow the news and we listen to what people say. We analyse collected information, diagnose the problems and react. We give opinions on draft legal acts, criticise binding provisions, alert the public about abuses and legal loopholes. We take our stand in the public debate and we initiate it ourselves.

Education

We strive to name new phenomena connected with surveillance, popularize the knowledge on threats arising there from and suggest different tactics of resistance. We use our website as the main channel of spreading information, but we do not avoid other media: you can read our newsletter and find us on popular social networks. You can read us in newspapers, hear us on the radio and see us on the TV (sometimes). You can meet us in the town: we organize our own educational events and street actions. We participate in conferences, debates and expert meetings: with political decision makers, academics and other stakeholders.