Is Foucault right?

Foucault’s concept of panopticism unveils a paradigm of power and control that extends far beyond the confines of the prison system. At its core lies the panopticon, a hypothetical architectural design wherein inmates are subjected to constant surveillance from a central watchtower, inducing a sense of perpetual visibility and self-regulation. The advent of technology has ushered in an era of unprecedented surveillance capabilities, blurring the boundaries between public and private spheres.From closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to facial recognition software, from internet cookies to social media tracking, the mechanisms of surveillance have transcended avenues in which I didn’t even think were possible honestly. One notable example of panopticism in modern society is the phenomenon of online behavioral tracking and data mining. Every click, search query, and interaction within the digital realm leaves behind a trail of data that is collected, analyzed, and monetized by corporations and governments alike. Through sophisticated algorithms and machine learning techniques, this data is leveraged to construct detailed profiles of individuals, predicting their preferences, behaviors, and even future actions.The implications of such pervasive surveillance are profound, in a way hindering various aspects of daily life. In the realm of commerce, personalized advertisements target consumers, tailored to their unique profiles and preferences. In the realm of politics, micro-targeting techniques are employed to sway public opinion and manipulate electoral outcomes. In the realm of social interaction, online platforms create filter bubbles, shaping individuals’ worldviews and limiting exposure to dissenting perspectives. Foucault’s analysis of panopticism also offers insights into potential avenues of resistance and subversion. By exposing the mechanisms of surveillance and fostering awareness of its implications, individuals can reclaim agency and challenge the panoptic gaze. Movements advocating for digital privacy rights, encryption technologies, and decentralized platforms embody attempts to disrupt the panoptic paradigm and assert the sovereignty of individuals over their own data and identities.