this glossary deals with the growing arrival of new technologies and brings together words that bear witness to the consequences associated with them, mainly in terms of security and our privacy.
comings and goings
a noun
busy, active movements of many people, especially in and out of a place.
Example: "yesterday's comings and goings outside Number 10"
en: allées et venues
confidentiality
a noun
the state of keeping or being kept secret or private.
Example: Confidienciality helps to maintain the secrecy of information (in an administration, a computerized system...)
en: la confidentialité
dependability
a noun
the quality of being trustworthy and reliable.
Example: the brand has built its reputation on rock-solid dependability.
en: fiabilité
eavesdropping
a noun
secretly listen to a conversation.
Example: She was caught eavesdropping.
en: écoute clandestine
groundbreaking
a noun
innovative; pioneering.
Example: A revolutionary theory.
en: révolutionnaire
inquisitive
adjective
having or showing an interest in learning things; curious.
Example: Peter is very chatty and inquisitive about everything.
en: curieux, inquisiteur
peer into
a verb
to look closely or carefully at something, especially when you cannot see it clearly.
Example: If you peer into the cave you can just about see the bear.
en: regarder dans
privacy settings
a noun
Privacy settings are controls available on many websites and apps to limit who can access your profile and what information visitors can see.
Example: All users have extensive controls over their own profiles and privacy settings.
en: les paramètres de confidentialité
privateness
a noun + an ajective
The quality or state of being private.
Example: This paper holds that the notion of publicness and privateness is neutral in describing facts.
en: caractère privé
recording devices
a noun
Recording device means a camera, a video recorder, or any other device that may be used to record or transfer images.
Example: To be effective, a recording device must be adapted to the research objectives, the characteristics of the field, the budgetary constraints and the technical skills.
en: dispositifs d'enregistrement
satellite tracking
a phrase
provide positioning, navigation and temporal reference services through satellites
Example: The fisheries ministry also proposed a SATELLITE TRACKING programme to monitor numbers of agriculture
en: suivi par satellite
scrutinize
a verb
examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Example: customers were warned to scrutinize the small print
en: scruter, examiner minutieusement.
Speed camera
a noun
a camera at the side of the road that takes pictures of cars that are going faster than is legally allowed.
Example: Speed cameras are the most effective way to induce drivers to slow down.
en: radar de vitesse
stare at
a verb
to look steadily at (someone or something)
Example: As a toddler he would pick up books and would stare at the words and absorb the information.
en: regarder fixement
to convoy
a verb
a protective escort (as for ships)
Example: a group of ships or vehicles traveling together, typically accompanied by armed troops, warships, or other vehicles for protection.
en: escorter
to frisk
a verb
(of a police officer or other official) pass the hands over (someone) in a search for hidden weapons, drugs, or other items.
Example: he raised his arms to permit the officer to frisk him.
en: fouiller
to inspect
a verb
look at (someone or something) closely, typically to assess their condition or to discover any shortcomings.
Example: "they inspected the paintwork for cracks and flaws"
en: Inspecter, examiner, vérifier, contrôler
to probe
a verb
a thorough investigation into a crime or other matter.
Example: researchers probing the digestive glands of mollusks.
en: Sonder
to snoop
a verb
investigate or look around furtively in an attempt to find out something, especially information about someone's private affairs.
Example: your sister might find the ring if she goes snooping around.
en: espionner, fouiner, fureter, fouiller
to warn
a verb
inform someone in advance of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation.
Example: Nobody warned me about the dangers.
en: avertir, prévenir
vigilance
a noun
Careful monitoring, without failure.
Example: security duties that demand long hours of vigilance.