Biopolitical Control and the Use of Surveillance Camera Data in Public Spaces

Abstract

The concept of biopolitics, developed by Michel Foucault in the 18th century, reflects how the State exerts control over the population through the management of individuals' lives. In Brazil, this control materializes using surveillance cameras in public spaces, raising questions about the preservation of fundamental rights, such as privacy and intimacy. This research aims to answer the following question: how can the use of data from surveillance cameras in public spaces ensure the protection of fundamental rights? The objective is to analyze the legal uncertainty arising from the absence of specific legislation regarding the use of such data, focusing on the General Data Protection Law (2018) and the Federal Constitution of 1988. The methodology adopted is qualitative research based on bibliographic and documentary sources, anchored in Foucauldian theories. The study concludes that the use of surveillance cameras, while promising state security, imposes a renunciation of privacy and intimacy rights, reinforcing stereotypes and marginalizing historically vulnerable groups.