State Utilization of New Surveillance Technologies and Justification Strategies for the Public: A Case Study of Israel

This article examines the intricate relationship between state power, technological innovation, and social control, analyzing how states utilize emerging technologies, especially in surveillance and military capacities, and the legitimization strategies employed to justify these practices to both domestic and global audiences. A key observation is the dualism of state technology use, projecting beyond domestic control to external strategic and economic interests, demonstrating technology as both a commodity and diplomatic tool. Taking Israel as a conspicuous case study due to its peculiar geopolitical situation that has rendered the Palestinian territories a laboratory for innovative military and security technologies, this paper examines how combat-proven systems are created, internationally traded, making Israel's defense industry a leading sector. To understand these dynamics, the research integrates various theoretical frameworks including panopticism, dual-use technologies, securitization theory, constructivism, techno-authoritarianism, as well as theories pertaining to public opinion and state legitimation. The study starts by explaining the theoretical basis, its presence in Israel, and its global consequences. The study also considers the state's rationales founded upon security as well as humanitarian reasons, and includes a focus on international collusion as well as censorship in informing public opinion.