Video Cameras and Public Safety

Cities use video cameras more and more these days to control traffic in and around major roads and highways. While some may see this as an invasion of privacy, those working in law enforcement know the advantages of having proof of traffic violations. Furthermore, video cameras may be used to potentially spot other kinds of crimes that can lead to breakthroughs in major criminal cases. Therefore, countries like England have added video cameras to airports, public areas, and intersections to promote safety in these areas through constant surveillance (The Telegraph, 2016). Still, video cameras can be costly to implement, maintain, and monitor. Citizens may also feel their privacy invaded without their consent. Is having video cameras as part of a way to monitor the public for a crime a good idea or a bad one?

The advantages are clear and lean towards public safety. Of the many crimes perpetrated in high traffic areas and public venues, many go unsolved due to lack of evidence. Video cameras serve to not only identify a perpetrator, but also show where someone has been. They can provide proof for alibis and help show where a victim was during a certain time.

Furthermore, video cameras in intersections help ward off unsafe driving habits. People may choose to drive fast and ignore pedestrian safety if they know they will not be recorded. There have been many hit and runs in the United States where victims are left dying on the road and the car that hit them has sped off. If cameras were in place, the assailant would be identified and punished. Speeding is also a major concern and many drivers speed while on the road or switch lanes unaware of the potential negative impact it can have on other drivers. With video cameras in place, law enforcement can identify these unsafe drivers and keep them off the road.

The disadvantages lean towards invasion of privacy. Some people live on or near public venues. They may have their homes spied on through these cameras without their consent. These cameras may have the potential to be used for other purposes besides observing potential criminal activity. This is something people fear as well as what could happen in the future due to the use of video cameras. For example, use of video cameras could lead to further invasions of privacy like monitoring of data and using facial recognition software to actively identify people in public.

One news article highlighted the use of cameras in a busy, public intersection in Orinda county. The placement of the cameras is on and near traffic poles and stop signs. The article noted other cities like Danville and Lafayette have begun using Reconyx cameras for public safety. "The cameras are intended to assist law enforcement by capturing images of fleeing thieves. But since the cameras are motion activated, they snap pictures of anything in their path. That includes joggers, dog-walkers, and schoolchildren" (Paredes & Wagner, 2016). The trouble with this is, the images from these cameras become public record. Because they are timestamped, anyone can discover when and where children go to school or go somewhere. This means people can potentially stalk and hurt a child that they wish to follow.

In the end, people have many concerns with the use of video cameras. While they have their advantages, especially in public venues, they may not be as useful in other places. People fear invasion of privacy. They also fear what people may do with the information collected from these cameras. Information from these cameras becomes public record that can be easily accessed. Should information like this be allowed in order to maintain public safety?

References

Paredes, D., & Wagner, L. (2016, August 8). Orinda Surveillance Cameras Violate Privacy, Critics Say - NBC Bay Area. Retrieved from http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Orinda-Surveillance-Cameras-Violates-Privacy-Critics-Say-389333452.html

The Telegraph. (2016). One surveillance camera for every 11 people in Britain, says CCTV survey - Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/10172298/One-surveillance-camera-for-every-11-people-in-Britain-says-CCTV-survey.html