Fear of unpredictable surveillance makes Muslim Americans surveil themselves, disempowering them.

Evidence

Living in an environment where surveillance is a possibility but not always exercised creates a state of unpredictability for Muslim Americans. Because of the fear of surveillance and in order to avoid it, Muslim American men and women participate in their own surveillance. This act highlights power dynamics in society. Some citizens are empowered to surveil in order to protect the state, while others are cast as suspicious and targets for surveillance, resulting in their disempowerment. — Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, 350