hfx.general discussion on CCTV and privacy

Discussion in hfx.general

From: "Greta"
Newsgroups: hfx.general

In the past 15 years, we've become increasingly accustomed to being monitored by video security systems when we venture out of our homes. These days, it's just about impossible to walk into a grocery store, a
pharmacy, a gas station, a shopping mall, a hospital, an apartment building, a government office, a high school, a museum - really, just about every public establishment except for restaurants and hair
salons - without having your mug caught on camera. In some places, like banks and 24 hour convenience stores, it only makes sense to have these systems in place. In some cases, like with ATMs, I am actually
comforted to see a video camera on the premises. But in the past few years, this video surveillance stuff seems to have gotten out of hand and cameras are being allowed in places they really have no right to
be in. Has anyone else noticed the huge proliferation of video surveillance cameras monitoring the streets of downtown Halifax, particularly in the areas between Barrington St. and the waterfront?

If not, there's a fairly accurate list of all these cameras at http://jvangurp.com/halifaxcams/ (I've also appended this list to the end of my message). Print off this list and take a stroll downtown sometime. Try to spot the cameras. You may be in for a surprise.

I used to enjoy taking walks in downtown Halifax before laying my head down for a good night's sleep. Lately, I've been avoiding downtown like the plague and take my walks in other parts of the city. And it's not because I'm afraid of being assaulted, it's because of the cameras.

It can't even be argued that these cameras are there as crime deterrents since most of them are positioned so discreetly that many a would-be perpetrator would be unlikely to notice them. The only reason I happened to notice them is because I have an interest in architecture and tend to scrutinize buildings up and down as I walk
past them. Ironically, many of these cameras are being set up in places where a couple of streetlights would be much more effective in preventing crime and making people feel safe.

What's even more ironic is that I have witnessed just as many incidents of violence, vandalism, and public lewdness in the streets of downtown Halifax as there ever were - in plain view of these cameras. And 10, 15, 20 minutes after the incident, guess what? Still no sign of the police.

A fact that I remember very well from taking a photography course years ago is that it's against the law to take somebody's picture without their consent. If a stranger walks up to you in the street and takes your picture without asking, you have every right to demand that they hand you over the negatives. A friend of mine was once sunbathing at a beach. Some pervert was taking pictures of her from his car using a camera with a zoom lens. She went up to him and demanded the negatives. He refused, so she took his camera, smashed it, and took the negatives. The guy was not pleased, but she was well within her legal rights to do this.

Perhaps the owners of a shopping mall can justify 'taking pictures' of people without their consent by arguing that their mall is private property and that they may protect it in any manner they choose. But the same cannot be said of a city street or sidewalk. No individual, institution, or business should be allowed to 'take your picture' on public grounds without your knowledge and consent. On any given day, if you walk a couple of blocks in downtown Halifax without ever setting foot on so-called "private property", you will have your
picture taken dozens of times and you won't even realize it. You will have no idea who owns the camera in question, for what purpose it was put there, who is watching you on the other end, whether the images
are being recorded, and if so, what the owner of the video system plans to do with the recordings. The cameras are just there - you were given no say in the matter.

It's hard not to see this as an erosion of every citizen's right to privacy. If no one speaks out and does something about this now, what's the next step? Cameras in residential neighbourhoods that monitor the flow of people entering and leaving your house? Cameras in the hallways of your apartment building? Hidden cameras in dressing rooms and public bathrooms? Where does one draw the line?

Any thoughts?

- Greta

From: "Doobielicious"
Newsgroups: hfx.general

My thoughts Greta are you should get over it and get on with life.
SMILE!!!! YOU'RE ON CAMERA!!!!!

From: "Jason D"
Newsgroups: hfx.general

I don't think I could care less about the cameras. The way I see it, is
having a camera looking at you on the street is no more of an invasion of
privacy than someone else walking down the street looking at you. If you
aren't doing anything wrong, does it really matter whos watching?

I also heard somewhere that in any public place your picture can be taken or
you can be videotaped without consent because it is a public place. Correct
me if I am wrong though.

Just my 2 cents.
Jason

From: "Greta"
Newsgroups: hfx.general

On Fri, 21 Feb 2003 17:18:08 GMT,

[Jason] >I don't think I could care less about the cameras. The way I see it, is
>having a camera looking at you on the street is no more of an invasion of
>privacy than someone else walking down the street looking at you.

[Greta] What if people, instead of just looking at you, were walking down the
street videotaping you?

[Jason] >If you aren't doing anything wrong, does it really matter whos watching?

[Greta] If you aren't carrying anything illegal in your pockets, does it
really matter if a cop stops you in the street to frisk you for no
reason?

[Jason] >I also heard somewhere that in any public place your picture can be taken or
>you can be videotaped without consent because it is a public place. Correct
>me if I am wrong though.

[Greta] I'm not a lawyer but I believe you're quite wrong on that point.

Cheers,

- Greta.