[Srednic (OP)]

From a theoretical point of view, if a Satellite Surveillance System could follow a person around, as well as be able to see and hear through walls, how would it be done?

[Kryptid]

If this is a satellite we are talking about, seems more like it would have to look through ceilings than walls. If the ceiling isn't made of metal, X-rays could be used to see through it. However, firing an X-ray beam from space and then detecting the reflection given off by it would be a tall order: lots of power and precise instrumentation would be needed. Then there's the possibility of such a powerful X-ray beam causing harm to the occupants within or damaging electronics.

Alternatively, a laser beam that can pick up vibrations might be used to listen to what's being said inside of the house. Over such large distances, that would have its own problems and filtering out noise would be important. It might be easier to just wait until the person leaves their house and track them visually.

[SeanB]

A mirror that could image a person on the street clearly, would be around 10 Hubble mirror sized, and would have to be lifted to a geosynchronous orbit. You would need a few of them to track individuals, and your tracking would only be possible on absolutely clear, windless and cloudless days or, with a much larger mirror, in IR at night, with the same requirements for wind, cloud and added to this low humidity.

Active tracking would require megawatts of power, and that means either a good few square kilometers of solar panels, and a few tons of battery as well for the storage of power to keep it operating during orbital eclipses, or a megawatt of nuclear reactor, at around 30 tons mass for the core alone, without any shielding.

As current rocket technology can only get around 10 tons to GEO, rocket including payload, this would almost never be done. There are cheaper alternatives, I would estimate you would need around 200 of the cheapest 55 million dollar launches, per satellite, to just assemble it in LEO and then slowly, over around a year, move it up to GEO and put it into operation using the power plant to drive Xenon thrusters to provide enough energy to get up to that slow orbit.

[Srednic (OP)]

Thank you both.  The reason I ask from a 'theoretical' point of view is because I am trying to understand how such a System could work with any type of Technology that is more sophisticated than we know of today.  At one time I worked for a company that did highly classified, Top Secret type of work that included 'black' programs.  Unfortunately, I had some negative interaction with one of the bosses and as preposterous as it might sound I do believe they (illegally) used one of the secret surveillance systems to spy on me.  Logically I understand that what we know of Satellite Technology there is is not suppose to be a Satellite that is able to perform such tasks.  However, 'anecdotally' tells me otherwise.  One of the residual side effects is a constant humming sound.

[evan_au]

Surveillance System could follow a person around, as well as be able to see and hear through walls, how would it be done?

The easiest way is to hack your smartphone.
- It has a microphone, and can monitor conversations even while you are walking down the road
- It has a camera, and can take pictures of where you are
- It has a GPS, which can record your location
- It can communicate through walls
- Most people in the Western world would feel naked without it, so we make sure we have it with us at all times.

One of the residual side effects is a constant humming sound.

It is thought that up to 15% of people hear sounds like this - it bothers some people who have it, and doesn't bother some other people who have it.

Just to rule out other factors, have you had your ears checked for buildup of earwax?

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

[Srednic (OP)]

Trust me I have done all the things you have suggested with regard to the ears.  As odd as it might sound it is almost as if there is something bouncing off objects that creates the sound.  In addition, the characteristics of the sound changes when it is interrupted.  For example, when using a hair dryer the sound will get louder for a minute of so after the hair dryer is shut off.  On a cloudy day it is more intense.

And while I do understand that a cell phone can be hacked into and spy on an individual, this behavior began long before I even owned a cell phone.  This is a multi-billion dollar company that has access to Technology that is much more sophisticated than Cell Phone Technology.  In theory, if such a System exists, they would have access to it and be able to use (abuse) it simply because they 'could'.  Proving they were breaking the law would be difficult at best   'Anecdotal' evidence has demonstrated to me that it does exist.   I am just trying to understand the Technology behind it.

[smart]

The easiest way is to hack your smartphone.

The smartphone is the ultimate spying device. It also uses GPS for tracking your physical location using satellite triangulation.

[Srednic (OP)]

I will have to respectfully disagree with you.  As I have already stated this spying occurred even when I did not own a cell phone.  It may be the ultimate way of spying on someone if you do not have access to Top Secret/SCI Technology.  However, if you do have access to that type of Technology, there is likely a lot more out there than the average person is aware of its existence.