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Who watches the watchers is the idea that political and security power structures require transparency and oversight or they are likely to abuse their power resulting in chilling effects on society, culture and economic activity. It is a political concept that dates back to Plato's Republic.
Separation of PowersOne common solution to who watches the watchers is the separation of powers. It is common for governments to be structured to have multiple independent branches that serve to balance power. Likewise, companies are often structured such that no one individual has too much power. A CEO is watched by a board of directors and other structures such as financial auditors.Checks and BalancesChecks and balances is a system whereby every leader, department, team and individual contributor in an organization has limited power and is watched by a transparent and open system of governance. For example, an independent governance body may allow members of the public to lodge a complaint against a government department.
Security & SecrecySecurity organizations commonly claim exemptions to checks & balances based on the idea that security requires secrecy to be effective. In some cases, they claim the right to hide entire programs, technology and operations from the public or the government itself. The watchers rarely want to be watched. |
| Type | Governence | | Definition | The idea that political and security power structures require transparency and oversight. | | Origin | Often attributed to the latin "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" literally "Who will guard the guards themselves?" that first appears in a 2nd century satire by Juvenal. However, this was a comedy about a man who is trying to ensure the fidelity of his wife by posting guards at her door. The first reference to the concept of who watches the watchers is Plato's Republic, although he doesn't use the phrase itself. | | Related Concepts | Corporate GovernanceInformation SecuritySeparation of PowersChecks and Balances |
Business Ethics
This is the complete list of articles we have written about business ethics.
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A list of issues and principles related to business ethics.
Two legal concepts that commonly collide.
A few examples of conflict of interest.
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An overview of the precautionary principle.
The primary elements of professional conduct.
The definition of accountability with examples.
Examples of common business and personal values.
The definition of agency with examples.
The definition of gaming the system with examples.
A list of key terms related to regulatory compliance.
A definition of independent knowledge with an example.
A definition of segregation of duties with examples.
A definition of internal controls with examples.
The difference between conformance and compliance.
A definition of administrative burden with examples.
The definition of fair competition with examples.
The definition of insider information with examples.
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