Citizen Spies

Starred review from March 15, 2017

Given the present political divisiveness in the United States, this comprehensive exploration of the nation's "spy-and-snitch" culture is bound to polarize readers. Analyzing citizen-policing initiatives from "Hue and Cry" posters in 1775 to the first organized police departments, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, D.A.R.E., and Call-911 programs, author Reeves's (new media communications, Oregon State Univ.) cutting insight deconstructs the protocols and policies of what he calls "America's surveillance society." Rather than presenting abstract layouts of charts and graphs, this book carefully examines historical accounts and court cases up to present day, and the withering effect of police crowdsourcing on America's dream of security, comfort, and liberty. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's "If You See Something, Say Something" program sparked 9/11-spawned paranoia into a seeming blaze of suspicion and outright perceptual errors, resulting in apprehension of innocent people going about everyday business. The American Civil Liberties Union claims that U.S. antiterrorism agencies receive roughly 8,000 tips--per day--from seeing/spying citizens. Examples of actual reports show practically all to be ludicrous, or coming from petty vindictiveness among neighbors. The underlying theme is that all are guilty until they can prove otherwise--but the negative attention can end careers and even lives. VERDICT A valuable perspective supported by copious notes and references; for readers interested in the evolution of American surveillance culture.--William Grabowski, McMechen, WV

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