Surveillance Assemblages at Public Gatherings across Europe

• In Event: Digital Criminology: Criminalization and Crises

Abstract

This paper is based on research conducted within the framework and by the consortium of the GATHERINGS project, which examines the balance between security, privacy, and (social) costs in public gatherings. Surveillance assemblages, as proposed by Haggerty and Ericson (2000), offer a lens for understanding how surveillance practices emerge and adapt in different public gathering contexts. From the project, we learned that these assemblages are not something static but rather are fluid, integrating various technologies, actors, and governance mechanisms to respond to specific security concerns. This paper examines how surveillance assemblages are deployed at public gatherings – ranging from demonstrations, protests, and festivals to football matches and music events – and shaped across Europe. This research maps the key surveillance technologies employed in these settings and explores the interactions between key stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, private security, event organizers, local authorities and policymakers. The findings of this paper aim to contribute to discussions on surveillance and the ethical dilemmas associated with the temporality and fluidity of security infrastructures in public space.

Authors

• Julie Caluwaerts, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Mattias De Backer, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Lucas Melgaço, Associate Professor -VUB