Sousveillance is a form of “reflectionism,” a term invented by Mann (1998) for using technology to mirror and confront bureaucratic organizations.
Surveillance information is largely exchanged and controlled by external agents over which individuals have little power. It is used to protect the privacy of its users. Reflectionism seeks to increase transparency between surveyors and those being surveilled by pointing the camera right back at the surveyors.
Reflectionism becomes sousveillance when it is applied to individuals using tools to observe the organizational observer. Surveillance information is largely exchanged and controlled by external agents over which individuals have little power. It is used to protect the privacy of its users. Reflectionism seeks to increase transparency between surveyors and those being surveilled by pointing the camera right back at the surveyors.
Giving the camera to individuals eliminates the ability of larger entities control what we see during playback in court or in journalism. People would then to ask the question “Do you like what you see?” to anyone.
Source: http://www.surveillance-and-society.org/articles1(3)/sousveillance.pdf