The project was a response to the deficit of civil control over purchasing and using of supervision tools (the equipment and software intended for controlling people, e.g. managing their actions or detecting abuses committed by them). The above mentioned deficit made it impossible to assess to what extent systemic changes were needed, and made it difficult for citizens to learn something about the matter and to exercise control in this field.
The aim of the project was to examine how the supervision tools were used by selected public institutions, to provide citizens with the access to information on practices in this field and related challenges, and to reach the decision-makers with conclusions concerning the impact of supervision tools on human rights and specific proposals. Implementation of those objectives in the long run should trigger positive changes in legal regulations and in the practice of institutions.
During implementation of the project, 196 public institutions received applications for public information, and also their Internet pages and public procurement bases were analysed. 31 texts and notes were published on the web page panoptykon.org.. Four papers were prepared (and forwarded to addressees of advocacy activities), as well as the publication "Big Brother toys, or a brief guide to tools that help the state to control its citizens" in printed (500 copies) and electronic versions (dedicated subpage, PDF version), and three iconographics. Open discussion meetings were organised in different cities throughout Poland. In order to promote the guidebook, a press conference was organised, and information on the monitoring led and its results were mentioned in different media 54 times.
The project benefited citizens, journalists, other non-governmental organisations, monitored institutions and the institutions that received materials concerning systemic problems.