WorldAugust 12, 2026

surveil

ser-VAYL

Definition

To keep someone or something under close, continuous observation, typically in a suspicious or clandestine manner for intelligence or security purposes.

Etymology

Derived from the French word 'surveiller,' which combines 'sur' (over) and 'veiller' (to watch). It entered English in the 19th century as a back-formation from the noun 'surveillance'.

In the news

The article describes how adversaries use commercial location data to surveil U.S. personnel in the Persian Gulf to track their movements and identify military patterns of life.

Closing the Front Door: The Case for DOJ’s Bulk Data Security Program

Read the full article ↗

Lawfare

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