En el libro La sociedad de la transparencia (2012), el filósofo surcoreano Byung Chul Han parte otra vez de la metáfora panóptica de Michel Foucault para desarrollar el concepto del panóptico digital. Se refiere a una nueva visibilidad total que permite ver todo a través de los medios electrónicos, empezando por la intimidad de cada persona. Esto abarca las redes sociales y herramientas de Google –Earth, Maps, Glass y Street View– y YouTube.

La hiperconectada Corea del Sur tiene la velocidad de navegación por internet más rápida del mundo y es el laboratorio más osado de la sociedad de la transparencia, devenida en una especie de “tierra santa” del homo-digital, cuyo celular es una extensión de la mano desde la cual “explora” el mundo.

El control panóptico de la sociedad disciplinaria funcionaba a través de la perspectiva lineal de la mirada desde una torre central. Los reclusos no se veían entre sí –ni divisaban al vigilante– y hubieran preferido no ser observados para tener algo de libertad. En cambio el panóptico digital pierde su carácter perspectivista: en la matrix cibernética todos ven a los demás y se exponen para ser vistos. El punto único de control que tenía la mirada analógica desaparece: ahora se observa desde todos los ángulos. Pero el control continúa –de otra manera– y sería aún más efectivo. Porque cada persona entrega a las demás la posibilidad de que su intimidad sea vista, generando una vigilancia mutua. Esta visión total “degrada a la sociedad transparente hasta convertirla en una sociedad de control. Cada uno controla a cada uno”, escribió el filósofo.

(...) El ensayo La sociedad de la transparencia termina planteando que el mundo se desarrolla como un gran panóptico donde ningún muro separa el adentro del afuera.

In his book The Transparency Society (2012), South Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han once again uses Michel Foucault’s panopticon metaphor as a point of departure to expound on the concept of the digital panopticon. This term refers to the new, radical visibility that makes it possible to see everything through electronic means, beginning with individuals’ private lives. This encompasses everything from social networks to Google tools—Earth, Maps, Glass, and Street View—and YouTube.

Hyperconnected South Korea boasts the world’s fastest Internet connections and is the most audacious laboratory of the transparency society, having transformed into a sort of “holy land” of Homo digitalus, who uses a cell phone as a hand extension with which to “explore” the world.

Panoptical control of the disciplinary society functioned through the direct view of the gaze from a central tower. The occupants weren’t visible to one another, nor could they see the watchman, and they would have preferred not to be observed, in order to have some semblance of freedom. The digital panopticon, however, loses its perspectivist nature: In the cybernetic environment, everyone sees everyone else and people expose themselves to be seen. The analog gaze’s single control point has disappeared: Observation is now ubiquitous, from all angles. But the control continues—in a different form—and perhaps it is even more effective than before. Because each individual grants others the opportunity to see into his or her private life, the knowledge of which generates a sense of mutual vigilance. This comprehensive view “degrades the transparent society to the point of turning it into a society of control. Everyone controls everyone else,” the philosopher wrote.

(…) The manifesto The Transparency Society ends by positing that the world is developing into a great panopticon in which no wall separates the inside from the outside.

In the book The Transparency Society (2012), the South Korean philosopher Byung Chul Han again starts from Michel Foucault's panopticon metaphor to develop the concept of the digital panopticon. It refers to a new total visibility that allows everything to be seen through electronic media, starting with the privacy of each person. This includes social media and Google tools - Earth, Maps, Glass and Street View - and YouTube.

The hyper-connected South Korea has the fastest internet browsing speed in the world and is the most daring laboratory of the transparency society, which has become a kind of “holy land” of homo-digital, whose cell phone is an extension of the hand from which to “explore” the world.

The panopticon control of the disciplinary society worked through the linear perspective of the gaze from a central tower. The inmates did not see each other – nor did they see the guard – and they would have preferred not to be observed in order to have some freedom. On the other hand, the digital panopticon loses its perspectivist character: in the cybernetic matrix everyone sees others and exposes themselves to be seen. The single point of control that the analog gaze had disappears: now it is observed from all angles. But the control continues – otherwise – and it would be even more effective. Because each person gives the others the possibility that their privacy is seen, generating a mutual surveillance. This total vision "degrades the transparent society into a society of control. Everyone controls everyone”" the philosopher wrote.

(...) The essay The Society of Transparency ends up positing that the world develops as a great panopticon where no wall separates the inside from the outside.