electronic surveillance

American  

noun

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

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of electronic surveillance

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

They couldn’t understand or anticipate that there would be things like cellphones and electronic surveillance.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

He proposes to protect the country’s border using electronic surveillance and digital controls and to criminalize illegal entry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

The researchers used data on emergency room visits from an electronic surveillance program used by states and the federal government to detect the spread of diseases.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

A source said Card has ditched his phone, leaving investigators no means of tracking him through electronic surveillance.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2023

But Gordievsky was a marked man, trailed by counterintelligence teams and under constant electronic surveillance.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau