Showing posts with label surveillance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surveillance. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

CCTV - Big Brother or Big Bother?

Today "talking cameras" are operating in Salford alongside those recently installed elsewhere in the country, with the number of CCTV cameras the highest in Europe are we turning into a "Big Brother" society? Obviously the idea behind CCTV is to protect the public, preventing anti-social behaviour and keeping our streets clean, but does it invade of our right to privacy?

It was only last month that Traffic Wardens in the area became the first in the UK to be equipped with head-mounted video cameras - with statistics suggesting that people are caught on camera 300 times a day is the extent of CCTV going further than necessary in protecting the public at the expense of their privacy?

It is true that CCTV has been very positive in preventing crime and identifying perpetrators and as many of the cameras are not noticeable without careful inspection, you would hardly notice they are there. Personally I feel safer in areas where CCTV is filming and that new "talking cameras" can only assist in making society a safer place to live.

For our protection or breach of privacy?