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Cameras Help Cops Catch a Killer
CrazedWalrus writes "Philadelphia police recently captured a serial killer with the help of a combination of Homeland Security and private surveillance cameras. Police examined video from 50 different cameras and pieced together relevant footage from 12 of them, and eventually were able to identify the murderer. Once caught, he confessed to several other murders spanning the past eight years. Without these cameras this killer would probably be stalking the streets of Philadelphia today. With results like that, is there really a good basis for argument against these cameras?"
killed everyone in that particular city as a way of eliminating the killer. With such surefire results, who would argue against it?
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
1. This is a valid concern
2. Who guarantees that nobody covertly spies on you without the use of public cameras? It is much easier to higher a PI than to manipulate camera owned by the local or federal government
3. I agree. That might happen. But in technology age it is inevitable this way or another. The only good answer to this is being militant as a citizen ready to give your life for your freedoms. Besides, there is data overflow problem in the scenario you mentioned: lots of data, not enough minds to attach meaning to it. I would not rely too much on computers in this.
4. You personally is not watched. Everyone is watched. You get only tiny share of attention on millions of people. If something bad happens at the same moment and in the same place, then you will get larger share of attention, but when being in a wrong place at a wrong time was a good thing?
5. Usage of public cameras should be as transparent as possible, the same as the actions of police are reasonably transparent (especially compared to other countries). There should be only very necessary secrecy around the public cameras. The law enforcement should get judge permission to get access to the footage.
6. It is the same rules that exist for "carefully selected" audio recordings. There must be additional proof that the record is not altered and is presented in full.
Basically, it is not about public cameras, it is about abusing them. It is a general concern. The only solution to this is public militancy - readiness to sacrifice their comfort and lives in order to protect individual freedoms. I am not going to protect rights of a pathetic nation. Rights should be earned with blood and sweat.
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
You give cops way too much credit. They are the biggest abuser of technology with their radar guns. There is nothing worse than giving them more hi-tech when they are always on a High carb donut powertrip. Cops no longer catch real crimes sorry. They always show up on the scene late. Or they harrass everyday citizens with their speeding tickets.