You can't avoid being seen

Do you sometimes feel like you’re on Candid Camera?  You wonder who is watching behind the camera on the corner, in the hotel, the office, the courthouse, the parking lot? If you are somehow uncomfortable being monitored and watched you have every right to be. Unless we do something soon this personal invasion of your privacy will get worse.

We are and have been eased into this unprecedented surveillance by big brother very slowly and cautiously, it has slipped into our lives and we take it for granted. Worse yet we have no idea who is monitoring these beasts. Is it someone who is a professional, a trained law enforcement officer or some clerk? It is disturbing to think that some unknown individual with an unknown agenda can monitor your actions.

I have less problem with video cameras in places of business as it it the best protection and certainly the best tool available to catch criminals in the act and gather information for prosecution after the fact. I can condone cameras in the secure section of a court house or the detention areas of police stations, but on the streets, sidewalks and highways I draw the line. That has gone too far.

We are now witnessing surveillance cameras at regulated traffic corners snapping pictures of autos making illegal turns, running caution or red lights and we are told it is for our own good. It reduces accidents we are told. I am not going to argue that point, however I am going to challenge the fact that the city, county or state are really that concerned about our safety. Regulators are being sold on the idea that this is a money maker for them. In no time at all the equipment is paid for and the money rolls in.

The sixth amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides that in all criminal prosecutions the accused has the right to face his accuser. This premise comes from old English law and earlier Roman rules. Traffic violations are not criminal offenses, however are you comfortable with the possibility of some invisible man or machine issuing you a citation and not being able to see, hear or confronting this individual. Not being able to defend or explain your case. I doubt this is something you feel good about.

So we tolerate the camera on the corner monitoring scofflaws, but what lies ahead? One ambitious Illinois senator is pushing to have these glass eyed cops stationed along our highways to capture speeders. I acknowledge the danger of speeders on our  highways however, I prefer the use of officers who can analyze situations, conditions and apply the human element on the spot.

To this point I have commented on the cameras we face on the street today, but what might lie ahead?  Around the world and primarily in Europe privacy groups are taking strong stands against the further proliferation of these myopic monsters putting us in the  sights of big brother and using this information for god knows what.

Britain is the surveillance capital of the world, it is estimated that there are 4.2 million closed circuit (CCTV) television cameras in the country, that is one for every 14 people. A person could be captured on as many 300 times on an average day. As if that were the end, but it is not. Monitoring the myriad of personal data contained in hundreds of data bases such as, social security registrations, bank transactions, applications to organizations, credit cards and more. provides a seamless monitoring system for almost everyone. To add insult to injury the newest technology provides for mobile surveillance systems that can watch gatherings, parks, picnics and the list goes on. Technology allows photos or video to be “tagged” this means that electronic scanning of this media will identify individuals across many photos or movies, giving the viewers a complete trail of your activities for any period of time they wish to review. Sound scary does it?

Cameras are located in bus terminals, airports, shopping malls, highways, museums and sports facilities to name a few. They are operated by police, security services, various national and local government agencies as well as private companies. The potential of management and control of the population is iron clad. Will we acquiesce and gradually allow our government to reveal us to the public, rob our privacy and threaten our freedom or will we take a stand to stop it?

Few would argue the position of the FBI which states that CCTV surveillance is a valuable tool to prevent crime. My question is will we give up freedom for safety and have none of either?  In the past our nation was different than most other countries. The power was in the hands of the people and we allowed government to have what we deemed would be permissible. In other parts of the world the opposite is the case, government has the power and may grant some to the people.  I must ask, have we rounded the bend.?

It will be our choice. May I take your picture?