Civic surveillance mediation

Environmental NGOs using satellite imagery and remotely sensed data for environmental monitoring and enforcement must negotiate their role within a broader Earth Observation (EO) ecosystem. When harnessing EO technologies for environmental good, these NGOs neither fully resist nor wholly reproduce traditional surveillance logics. Instead, they act as civic surveillance mediators: intermediaries that shape the direction and ethical use of monitoring technologies in pursuit of civic- and justice-oriented goals. Their use of EO data cannot be categorised as either fully counter-balancing or entirely disciplinary. Rather, they are actively mediating the civic potential of surveillance technologies. However, as EO tools continue to evolve and surveillance becomes increasingly automated, NGOs may face pressure to clarify their ethical commitments and formalise their protocols. The model of civic surveillance mediation helps to name and situate this role, highlighting the need for intentional EO research design, participatory engagement and ethical consideration in shaping future surveillance practices for environmental justice.