"Wonderfully written, Citizen Spies asks us to consider the implications of governing when carried out through the bodies of citizens, particularly through their capacities for surveillance and communication. Examining case studies of U.S. citizens invited to spy on othersfrom D.A.R.E., a program that encourages children to snitch on their parents, to crowdsourcingReeves upends notions of civic duty. Citizen Spies provocatively invites us, in response to the invocation 'if you see something, say something,' to not say anything when we see something: silence as an act of radical resistance."
"Reevess larger point is that the array of surveillance and control systems established in American society since theSept.11 attacks is largely dependent on habits of complicity, or at least of acquiescence, that have been a very long time in forming."
"In an age where surveillance studies tends to focus on digital systems and technologies, Joshua Reeves's excellent work reminds us of thelong duree of governance through the recruitment of citizens as extensions of police.This deep expedition into peer to peer spyingmeticulously connects seeing to saying, observing to reporting, and ultimately surveillance to communication.Citizen Spiestakes us on a rollicking ride where we discover that our neighbors are as integral as the devices in snoop and snitch culture."
"Citizen Spieslooks at citizens, surveillance, and how the police state conscripts us all. At a moment when citizens are contesting both the repressive and revolutionary potential ofcivic engagement, Reeves analysis of its evolution as a surveillance tool is exceptionally useful."
★ 03/15/2017
Given the present political divisiveness in the United States, this comprehensive exploration of the nation's "spy-and-snitch" culture is bound to polarize readers. Analyzing citizen-policing initiatives from "Hue and Cry" posters in 1775 to the first organized police departments, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, D.A.R.E., and Call-911 programs, author Reeves's (new media communications, Oregon State Univ.) cutting insight deconstructs the protocols and policies of what he calls "America's surveillance society." Rather than presenting abstract layouts of charts and graphs, this book carefully examines historical accounts and court cases up to present day, and the withering effect of police crowdsourcing on America's dream of security, comfort, and liberty. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's "If You See Something, Say Something" program sparked 9/11-spawned paranoia into a seeming blaze of suspicion and outright perceptual errors, resulting in apprehension of innocent people going about everyday business. The American Civil Liberties Union claims that U.S. antiterrorism agencies receive roughly 8,000 tips—per day—from seeing/spying citizens. Examples of actual reports show practically all to be ludicrous, or coming from petty vindictiveness among neighbors. The underlying theme is that all are guilty until they can prove otherwise—but the negative attention can end careers and even lives. VERDICT A valuable perspective supported by copious notes and references; for readers interested in the evolution of American surveillance culture.—William Grabowski, McMechen, WV
"This reflective book attempts to explain the use of the & other'to inform our perceptions of how policing is and should be handled."
"Joshua Reevess groundbreaking book explores the myriad ways in which looking out for one another has come to mean monitoring one another in the name of security and public safety. It is a cautionary tale for an era of interactive populism about how people have come to actively participate in their own submissionand how this could be otherwise. In this respect, it is an urgently important contribution to our understanding of the pitfalls and potentials of contemporary citizenship."
"Citizen Spies offers a fascinating history of citizen-led policing, as well as partnerships between citizens and police, in order to situate current forms of criminal justice and information sharing through digital media. Timely, engaging, and a pleasure to read, Joshua Reeves provides a much-needed perspective for scholarly and practice-based conversations about policing technologies and surveillance."
In an age where surveillance studies tends to focus on digital systems and technologies, Joshua Reeves's excellent work reminds us of the long duree of governance through the recruitment of citizens as extensions of police. This deep expedition into peer to peer spying meticulously connects seeing to saying, observing to reporting, and ultimately surveillance to communication. Citizen Spies takes us on a rollicking ride where we discover that our neighbors are as integral as the devices in snoop and snitch culture.”-Jack Z. Bratich,author of Conspiracy Panics: Political Rationality and Popular Culture
" Citizen Spies looks at citizens, surveillance, and how the police state conscripts us all. At a moment when citizens are contesting both the repressive and revolutionary potential of civic engagement, Reeves’ analysis of its evolution as a surveillance tool is exceptionally useful."- The New Republic
"Wonderfully written, Citizen Spies asks us to consider the implications of governing when carried out through the bodies of citizens, particularly through their capacities for surveillance and communication. Examining case studies of U.S. citizens invited to spy on others—from D.A.R.E., a program that encourages children to snitch on their parents, to crowdsourcing—Reeves upends notions of civic duty. Citizen Spies provocatively invites us, in response to the invocation 'if you see something, say something,' to not say anything when we see something: silence as an act of radical resistance." -Rachel E. Dubrofsky,co-editor, Feminist Surveillance Studies
"Reeves’s larger point is that the array of surveillance and control systems established in American society since the Sept. 11 attacks is largely dependent on habits of complicity, or at least of acquiescence, that have been a very long time in forming."- Inside Higher Ed
“Joshua Reeves’s groundbreaking book explores the myriad ways in which looking out for one another has come to mean monitoring one another in the name of security and public safety. It is a cautionary tale for an era of interactive populism about how people have come to actively participate in their own submission—and how this could be otherwise. In this respect, it is an urgently important contribution to our understanding of the pitfalls and potentials of contemporary citizenship.”-Mark Andrejevic,Pomona College
"This reflective book attempts to explain the use of the ‘other' to inform our perceptions of how policing is and should be handled."- Choice
“ Citizen Spies offers a fascinating history of citizen-led policing, as well as partnerships between citizens and police, in order to situate current forms of criminal justice and information sharing through digital media. Timely, engaging, and a pleasure to read, Joshua Reeves provides a much-needed perspective for scholarly and practice-based conversations about policing technologies and surveillance.”-Daniel Trottier,author of Social Media as Surveillance: Rethinking Visibility in a Converging World
"Analyzing citizen-policing initiatives from 'Hue and Cry' posters in 1775 to . . . call-911 programs, author Reeves's cutting insight deconstructs the protocols and policies of what he calls 'America's surveillance society.' [T]his book carefully examines historical accounts and court cases up to present day, and the withering effects of police crowdsourcing on America's dream of security, comfort, and liberty."- Starred Library Journal
