Digital Surveillance

The monitoring, tracking, and collection of data about individuals through digital technologies, including by governments, corporations, and other institutions. For disabled people, digital surveillance creates specific accessibility concerns: assistive technology data may reveal disability status, online activity patterns may be used to deny benefits or services, and marginalized disabled communities may face heightened surveillance that discourages use of digital accessibility tools. Surveillance concerns can cause disabled people to avoid using helpful technologies or platforms, creating indirect access barriers.