Final answer:
The most important factor in whether governments will deploy surveillance for repressive purposes, as per the Carnegie Endowment report, is political ideology.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Carnegie Endowment report, the most important factor in whether governments will deploy surveillance for repressive purposes is political ideology. This is because while technological capability provides the means for surveillance, it is the political ideology of a government that determines how that technology is employed. Governments with repressive ideologies may use surveillance technology to suppress dissent and control their citizens, whereas governments with a commitment to democratic principles and human rights are more likely to use such technology within legal and ethical boundaries. The concern highlighted in the report and echoed by social scientists is that these technologies could be abused to infringe on privacy and freedom, and thus there's a need for vigilance and legal limits to prevent misuse.