When Does Video Surveillance Go Too Far?

openbear asks: "Last year the loft complex that I live in installed video cameras at the front gate so residents can see their visitors before they buzz them in. I have no problem with this, by itself it is a cool idea/ Now a small group of overprotective residents have convinced the property management to install video cameras in all of the main hallways on each floor of our building. This is where I have a problem. The reason is because the locations for the new video cameras will wind up capturing the front doors of about twenty residents in the building. Add the fact that the video feeds from these new cameras will be recorded and saved for two months and the situation gets legally-questionable quickly. So here is my question: We have all become accustom to video surveillance cameras in public places. We don't think twice about a camera in a department store or in the hallway of a hotel, but how would you feel about cameras in the building that you call home? Isn't there some law stopping the property management from recording who goes in and out of peoples apartments even if it is done by accident?" Updated!

Update: 06/05 5PM EST by C :Sean M. Bober sends in this related question, which attempts to put a humorous spin on things while asking a very important question: "Recently, my 'technical lead' has taken a liking to setting his webcam on the cubicle wall so that he can observe us working. First of all, I would like some fun and creative ways to get him back. Secondly, I would like some feedback as to the ethics of this situation. Finally, I would like some discussion as to it's long-term impact on employee morale..."

Comments

the problem is not surveilance, it's secrecy

[Jamie Zawinski]

What if everyone had access to those cameras? For example, what if they were broadcast on extra channels on the cable TV system inside the building (this is trivially easy to do, it's a $10 part.)

The thing that people find disturbing about surveilance is not that they are being watched, but that they are being watched by some authority who is not accountable.

It's about disparity of power.

If everybody can see, then nobody cares. You can easily observe this by the care-free way people walk down the street, and eat in public restaurants. When you are all on equal footing, lack of privacy is not a big deal. It's just called ``being out in public.''

David Brin wrote an interesting book about this called The Transparent Society, which was based on an article he wrote in Wired a few years ago.

Read your lease

[Lish]

In my last lease, it specifically mentioned that they could, at any time, install surveillance equipment in "common areas" (meaning hallways, laundry room, etc). They didn't, but I can think of reasons why they might start doing so. Since you have no "expectation of privacy" in common areas, their installing video cameras in the hallway is perfectly legal. If, let's say, when a resident opens their door, the interior of the apartment would be visible, that _might_ be a different story. Someone standing outside your door waiting to be let in, however, is in a public place; while I object to this personally as a privacy issue, it is almost certainly legal.

Talk to the landlord, or get a petition of residents that are opposed to putting in the cameras. If they aren't already there, the landlord might actually welcome an excuse not to spend the money for them.

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