electronic surveillance

American  

noun

1. surveillance or the gathering of information by surreptitious use of electronic devices, as in crime detection or espionage.

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electronic surveillance British  

noun

1. the use of such electronic devices as television monitors, video cameras, etc, to prevent burglary, shop lifting, break-ins, etc

2. monitoring events, conversations, etc, at a distance by electronic means, esp by such covert means as wiretapping or bugging

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Etymology

Origin of electronic surveillance

First recorded in 1970–75