Hunting suspects versus fishing for objects

Although digital security systems are largely present and visible in international airports, this article takes a step back from the theme of the issue to look at the importation of a behavioural analysis programme into France. The French ‘évaluation du comportement des personnes’ (ECP) is a human surveillance technique that is a priori far removed from the terrorism prevention model generally implemented in these spaces. This article looks at the usefulness and function attributed to it by professionals at different operational levels in the airport security chain. The analysis is based on a corpus of semi-structured interviews with French agents and on documentary research (professional, legal and institutional literature). It shows how the ECP is used by many actors as a resource to challenge or circumvent the automation and proceduralization of surveillance activities. In these infrastructures where machine vigilance prevails, human or ‘low-tech’ surveillance is a source of prestige and professional distinction.