Surveil and control? Monitoring of web activity in Israel

In recent years, the level of state surveillance of internet activity in Israel, both of posting on social media and browsing history, of Israeli citizens, has increased. While both police and Israel Security Agency (ISA, also known as the Shin Bet or as Shabak) were engaged with different aspects of social media monitoring, shaping the boundaries of the freedom of expression, the ISA is also involved with scrutinizing passive web browsing activities. While the statutory powers to do so existed prior to the Gaza war, it appears that the war has exacerbated the latter kind of online surveillance practices, targeting mostly the Arab and Bedouin minorities. These practices reflect concerning trends toward digital authoritarianism, where technology enables systematic monitoring and control of minority populations under the guise of security.