Abstract

The article posits that, with the emergence of modern states, a sensing contract was formed between citizens and the ones that rule them, in which governments assume responsibility for monitoring the environment. Governments in turn delegated this responsibility to appointed authorities, such as environmental protection agencies. In response to specific instances of governments’ inaction or insufficient action to ensure a safe living environment, people reverse this delegation trend, claiming back the ability and entitlement to monitor their environment through forms of citizen science (what we frame as taking back the sense). Doing so, ordinary people produce environmental data that can address institutional enforcement gaps. This article explores the evolution of the sensing contract, with a focus on the legal and policy implications of a (re-)turn to civic sensing. We offer a theoretical lens to understand citizen science as a re-appropriation of sensing, review illustrative cases and reflect on the implications of an increased reliance on civic environmental monitoring.