They'll be watching you

[Fiona]

Is this happening everywhere? Does anyone else find it worrying? I am very disturbed by what is happening to my country

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...icle334686.ece

[slade]

Big Brother's hand stretches far doesnt it

[Fiona]

It's getting worse and worse. And nobody seems to care. I don't understand it but it scares me

[ch85us2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slade Big Brother's hand stretches far doesnt it

It is a good show.


We had them here in columbus (to catch red light runners and for amber alerts) , but some political group got in a big rile about it and they took them all down.

[slade]

We have some of those cameras here, There put at the intersections to catch accidents and red light speeders,not alot but they're still around

[Fiona]

Everybody in cities in the UK is on camera almost all the time outdoors and in public places. There are cameras all over the roads. as well, so you're watched in your car. Now they are going to track your movements on the roads and keep the information for 2 years, rising to 5. I think it's good if people in other places protest, but we don't here We are told most people like the cameras (though I don't see any evidence to back that up, really) It may be true since there is no apparent resistance

[slade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiona Everybody in cities in the UK is on camera almost all the time outdoors and in public places. There are cameras all over the roads. as well, so you're watched in your car. Now they are going to track your movements on the roads and keep the information for 2 years, rising to 5. I think it's good if people in other places protest, but we don't here We are told most people like the cameras (though I don't see any evidence to back that up, really) It may be true since there is no apparent resistance

Cameras are good for safety reasons, but thats just over doing it. There's no room for privacy and freedom. Doesnt this violate some kind of rights....probably not since its in public and the cameras are on property that the country owns

[Fiona]

We don't have rights in this country. That's part of the problem. We are subjects, remember. People think that doesn't matter but it really does

Some more information here


http://www.liberty-human-rights.org....acy/cctv.shtml

[Ravager]

I've only just heard of this, can't say I'm too thrilled about it myself, though it may help in catching criminals.
I think it depends a lot on the use of such a system - when does someone consult it, rather than using other methods?
And of course, it's a recipe for abuse, if the wrong people get hold of some of that information, then who wants to be the person to live with it?

As for the protest thing, I think it needs co-ordination. But then the government went ahead with war on Iraq despite the amount of protest to it. If the government thinks it can get away with it, then in this case it's likely that it will.

[dj_venom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch85us2001 It is a good show.

No, no it is not, it is not okay, it is not, it just isn't!

I think it's an amazing idea, and perhaps could be good. It would be pretty cool to have the license plate of a suspected criminal, search in the database, and be able to track them all across the countryside.

But, of course, like all good things, it can be turned bad (funny, reminds me of many of the good threads perverted here ). If in the wrong hands, it could cause problems, but everything can be turned for evil uses.

I understand the fear of lack of privacy, but none of these cameras will be inside houses, and I'm not sure how good they will be to catch drivers of the cars, and how good the quality is.

However, I haven't seen this first hand, so I can't really talk, but I must say it sounds good in 'theory'.

[Athena]

*lurks*

*lurks*

THEY are awtching me *snort* (us rather)

*lurks*

*lurks*This is an issue that hits very close to home with me, however I have not read the article yet.

*lurks*

*has a pig roast in this thread* BAH

*lurks*

*smoke rolls off pig's ears* or are those my ears..ah, what the heck

*lurks*

*bounces*

[Fiona]

@Athena. LOL

@DJV. I think part of the problem I have is that we already have extensive CCTV coverage in the UK. A lot of the crime prevention budget has been spent on it and the evidence that it does what is claimed for it is sketchy at best.See:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hors292.pdf

Many CCTV systems are run by private companies who are not very accountable.There is a code of guidance, but little direct regulation.

There is ongoing research as to whether cctv is cost effective in reducing crime (see above and for example
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3339133.stm)

and
http://www.nacro.org.uk/data/briefin...62800-csps.pdf

The jury is at best out. Yet they propose to spend an enormous amount of money implementing this new system which is being sold on the same promises as street cameras

As to privacy and the cameras falling into the wrong hands, what are the right hands? For example this case
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...884193,00.html
arose from council run cameras. I accept it is unusual but privacy matters a great deal, IMO

You are correct when you say they are not in houses. But many of the cameras are on the streets and can be turned and targetted. You can point them through windows if you like. OK you may think this is paranoid, but are you sure that a bored employee of a private security company would not do this? I'm not.

[dj_venom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiona Many CCTV systems are run by private companies who are not very accountable.There is a code of guidance, but little direct regulation.

Well that completely changes it. I was thinking when I read it, that all cameras were either owned by the police/government, or was going to be owned by them... not that it would come through others.

Quote:

There is ongoing research as to whether cctv is cost effective in reducing crime (see above and for example

Yeah, and that's what I meant before, in theory it is probably a good idea, but very inneffective when put in practice.

Quote:

As to privacy and the cameras falling into the wrong hands, what are the right hands? For example this case http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...884193,00.html arose from council run cameras. I accept it is unusual but privacy matters a great deal, IMO

That is unusual, but that is true that someone could simply sell it to make a bit of cash on the side.

Quote:

You are correct when you say they are not in houses. But many of the cameras are on the streets and can be turned and targetted. You can point them through windows if you like. OK you may think this is paranoid, but are you sure that a bored employee of a private security company would not do this? I'm not.

Oh, I was thinking still cameras. I was not thinking about rotating cameras, which as you say, would no doubt become an amusement tool for the teen working the graveyard shift.

In which case, I say what I said before, while good in theory, it's not neccessarily best when used in practice.