The distinction between passive signal capture and active surveillance defines the ethical boundary of enterprise AI.
Defining the Boundary
Active surveillance involves:
- Intentional monitoring of individuals
- Collection of identifying information
- Storage of raw behavioral data
- Analysis focused on specific people
Passive signals involve:
- Abstracted pattern detection
- Anonymized or aggregated data
- Immediate processing and discarding
- Analysis focused on systems, not individuals
Why the Distinction Matters
Active surveillance:
- Erodes trust
- Creates legal liability
- Damages culture
- Generates backlash
Passive signals:
- Preserve privacy
- Enable insights
- Maintain trust
- Scale safely
Technical Implementation
Achieving passive signal capture requires:
- Processing at the edge
- Immediate abstraction
- No raw data retention
- Consent-gated activation
The Ethical Imperative
Organizations must choose: surveillance or signals. The choice defines not just compliance posture, but organizational values.