Supervision vs. Surveillance — What's the Difference?

Supervision is an act or instance of directing, managing, or oversight.

Surveillance is the monitoring of behavior, many activities, or information for the purpose of information gathering, influencing, managing or directing. This can include observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV), or interception of electronically transmitted information like Internet traffic.

The act, process, or function of supervising.

Close observation of a person or group, especially one under suspicion.

(uncountable) The act or instance of supervising.

The act of observing or the condition of being observed.

(uncountable) Responsible oversight.

Close observation of an individual or group; person or persons under suspicion.

A tutorial session for an individual student or a small group.

Continuous monitoring of disease occurrence for example.

The act of overseeing; inspection; superintendence; oversight.

Systematic observation of places and people by visual, aural, electronic, photographic or other means.

Management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group

(legal) In criminal law, an investigation process by which police gather evidence about crimes, or suspected crime, through continued observation of persons or places.

Oversight; watch; inspection; supervision.

Close observation of a person or group (usually by the police)