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Chicago Pondering Huge Camera Network

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the big-brother-is-watching dept.

andyring writes "According to ABC7 in Chicago, mayor Daley rolled out plans to install thousands of video cameras in public places across the Windy City. In some ways, I suppose there are positives, as all the existing and future cameras are tied in to the 911 emergency center, allowing a 911 dispatcher to actually watch the area in question when someone dials 911. Dispatchers will be able to control some of the cameras, such as panning and zooming in."

2 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. The question... by bloggins02 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... is not whether such moves are useful. Arguably, almost all privacy-invading programs are in some way.

    The question is: do you trust the government (and the people that work for it!) to use it responsibly?

  2. Re:Privacy in public by 88NoSoup4U88 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    As much can be achieved by photographing/filming them :
    You could also replace the 'protestors' with 'criminals' and your point makes alot less sense.

    I think placing cameras , if properly used by lawenforcements / third parties, can only contribute to cleaning up some foul areas (as seen from first hand experience , in a bad neighbourhood in Rotterdam, the Netherlands) and might come in handy when they are in fact used for 'inspecting the area/accident' in case of an emergency.

    I'm all for privacy ; but it is, and will be , a -public- place : Then again, i think drastic measures like this, should only be done after the city has made a vote for it in a 'referendum' (i am not sure if this is an english word) ; more or less a poll amongst the citizens of the city.