Surveillance & Monitoring

Surveillance is often the starting point.

For many writers, their work is not only read — it is watched. Online activity, communication, and networks can be monitored over long periods of time, building a detailed picture of what they write, who they speak to, and how they work.

In some countries, this monitoring is systematic and built into the infrastructure itself. Internet service providers may be controlled or closely monitored by the state. Platforms used for communication and everyday life can be designed in ways that allow access to messages, contacts, and activity.

In China, widely used platforms such as WeChat — along with emerging “everything apps” that combine messaging, payments, and services — create environments where communication, financial activity, and social interaction are closely tied together and more easily monitored. In Iran, a heavily filtered internet and sophisticated blocking systems restrict access to global platforms, pushing users toward systems that are easier to observe and control.

This form of surveillance shapes how people write and communicate. It may not always be visible, but it creates a constant awareness that activity can be tracked and used.

Beyond borders

Leaving these environments does not always bring an end to monitoring.

Writers living in exile may still be targeted through digital surveillance that operates across borders. In some cases, this involves advanced spyware tools capable of accessing messages, files, and devices remotely — as seen in well-documented cases such as the use of Pegasus.

In other cases, the methods are less sophisticated but still effective. Spyware can be installed through social engineering, often by individuals who have gained trust within diaspora communities and are given access to devices. Once installed, these tools can provide ongoing access to communications and personal data.

At the same time, open digital environments can also be used for monitoring. Social media platforms, public profiles, and online archives can be systematically collected and analysed to map networks, track activity, and identify opportunities for intimidation or pressure.

Impact

Surveillance, in this sense, is not a single act but an ongoing condition.

It shapes behaviour over time — influencing what is written, how it is shared, and what feels possible to say.