Covert Surveillance

 

The term 'covert surveillance' is a euphemism for spying.

Covert comes from the French for 'covered' or hidden and surveillance, again from the French for supervision.

So, watching while remaining hidden... sounds like a spy to me.

Sun-Tzu's classic 'The Art of War' contains early references to spying, and for as long as people have struggled for power, they have spied on one another. However, it does appear to be a uniquely human activity. Sure animals conceal themselves while hunting or being hunted, but spying doesn't seem to be something that any of them engage in. It doesn't exactly make me feel superior knowing that.