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Cambridge, Mass. Moves To Nix Security Cameras
An anonymous reader writes "Citing privacy concerns, the Cambridge, Mass. City Council has voted 9-0 to remove security cameras scattered throughout the city. 'Because of the slow erosion of our civil liberties since 9/11, it is important to raise questions regarding these cameras,' said Marjorie Decker, a Cambridge city councilor. Rather than citing privacy, WCBVTV is running the story under the headline 'City's Move To Nix Security Cams May Cost Thousands.'"
Where's the tag!?
libertarian: (n) socially liberal, financially conservative; neither left, nor right.
The people who are going to be dismantling them and removing them are probably not doing the job for free.
There is NO expectation of privacy when you are in public. Security cameras, when placed in common public areas are no problem. Heck, I can video tape you all I want on a street corner, as long as it is for my own private amusement.
It good to hear that at least one city council has worked up enough back-bone to stand up to law enforcement on this issue. I hope the Chicago City Council comes to a similar conclusion and convenience Mayor Daley that this is a waste of money and shut our surveillance system down in lieu of hiring more officers, if necessary. Unfortunately Mayor Daley pushes public surveillance pretty hard.
Remove? Um. Simply turn them off.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
They could have said "City's Move To Nix Security Cams May KILL YOUR CHILDREN!"
I mean, remember poor Caylee?
I have a question: Why not sell them at auction with the caveat that the winning bidder has to also remove all of them from service, completing a specified removal procedure? Does that make too much common sense?
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But isn't that offset from the cost of maintaining and watching the camera network?
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
Additionally, often things like city wide security and red light cammeras are not monitored by actual government employees but companies sub-contracted out to do the job. Canceling the contract generally has a penalty involved.
Installing camera system: $264,000
Turning them off and leaving in place: $0
Big brother not watching you anymore: priceless
Cambridge, Mass. Moves To Nix Security Cameras
Did anyone else think this meant they were installing security cameras running BSD?
Mod points: Guaranteed to remove your sense of humor.
Side effects may include gullibility and temporary retardation
The cameras were bought with a DHS grant, which my have to be repaid.
It isn't stated explicitly, but it appears that the city used part of the grant already to install the first few cameras.
It isn't that the physical removal will cost money, but that they may have to reimburse the feds for the grant money now that they have opted out of the program.
Also, this is not certain -- which is why it "may" cost thousands.
Cambridge MA is full of a bunch of nerds and malnourished artist types.
And apparently, 9 Al-Qaeda operatives on city council.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
You forgot:
Tell people we're turning them off: $0
Raise taxes to pay for the cost of operating them in secret: $0 (it ain't *their* money!)
Still using cameras to spy on law abiding americans: priceless
People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people
Disagree. Security cameras may not stop crime, but they can be used as evidence in a trial, rather than let the criminal get-away to kill somebody else.
We just had a case like that in Pennsylvania where some crooks broke-into a bank. Had the cameras Not been there, they would still be running free. But now they are sitting in jail. Cameras are just another method of collecting evidence.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Because it would be easy for the government to cherry pick a few shots of you at certain times and use them as evidence to convince a stupid jury that you broke a law.
"If one would give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man, I would find something in them to have him hanged." - Cardinal Richelieu
Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
Why don't they just deactivate them and leave them in place? That shouldn't cost too much, I wouldn't think...
Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
I agree. Another point which is of paramount importance: who's in control? Why not take the camera's and make them viewable by all, with a backlog of several days? Let people use them as well. Increase social control. Or would this cause some kind of backlash? One could imagine, for instance, dominant insecure alpha men continually tracking their wives as they go shopping and whatnot, while the wives are oblivious. And everyone tells little white lies about where they've been (some not so white, of course). But would that lead to an increase in domestic violence? Or would it mean more crimes would be solved, since more eyes are tracking the streets? Should you take a halfway stance, that only registered users - and ones with a clean police bill - are allowed to use them? My $ 0.02
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it well worth the effort.
Why don't they just deactivate them and leave them in place? That shouldn't cost too much, I wouldn't think...
Yeah, it's not like some bored MIT students would figure out how to hack into them and have their own little surveillance network...
This guy's the limit!
Just a thought, and maybe my tin-foil hat is too snug, but could the local govt find themselves removing these cams because the _police_ didn't like the notion that _they_ might be filmed in public doing things they shouldn't do, like, I dunno, beating protesters? I'm not saying that's happened, but where's the outrage from the police and the protestations that they need these cameras to "protect teh childrenz"?
Truth, Justice. Or the American Way.
Why don't they just deactivate them and leave them in place? That shouldn't cost too much, I wouldn't think... Yeah, it's not like some bored MIT students would figure out how to hack into them and have their own little surveillance network...
While I don't care for that idea, either, somehow the idea of a bunch of nerds with no lives watching me isn't all that terrifying.
Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
So who was the bright spark that thought up the idea of representing "east" with a "W"? Now what can we use for "west" - dammit "W" is taken!!
The International Telecommunication Union.
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
bceause the "gubmint" is in a conspiracy to frame you
Uh, after enough police scandals, prosecutors knowingly prosecuting innocent people (withholding exculpatory evidence showing that the person did not commit the crime) and D.A.s declaring that they only believe in DNA evidence when it claims a man is guilty but not when it shows that the accused was either of the two men who raped a woman... I think its fair to say that the people in government are more than happy to frame anyone they wish.
If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
Speak for yourself.
My interior security cameras at the house trigger the alarm and page me when motion is detected in zones if the alarm is armed. They also were successfully used as evidence to put away the punk that robbed me. Thieves are brain dead and will look directly at cameras.
also the driveway camera triggers the doorbell if a car sized object enters the driveway.
Security cameras are very useful and work great.
PUBLIC security cameras are useless except for government violation of civil rights.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Massachusetts isn't going to let you in with an M4.
"Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
Your ideas intrigue me, sir; I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
How would an interested person go about setting up and installing such a system?
The meek may inherit the earth, but the strong shall take the stars.
and you are modded 5 insightful?
i must be some sort of alien, as i can't fathom this sort of paranoia. to me, what you just said strikes of insanity. i really hate to break this to you, but no one really cares about you that much. you're not worth the effort. and neither am i
anyone who IS worth the effort: "they", the government, were they that wrathful, can just fabricate anything they want. such that the existence or lack of the cameras provides no protection either way
the salient feature of your rationale, to me, that is insane, is that the government is some sort of domineering force hellbent on subjugating you for... no real reason at all. just because that's what governments do? funny, i though governments governed
to me, the government is made up of bumbling well-meaning but clueless bureaucrats, not archvile evil mastermind stock hollywood villains, which is the only basis by which what you just wrote has any validity
i seriously question your sanity and those of everyone who rated you up. and yet, there it is: you are rated up, and i am rated down. i am the oddball, not you
i'm utterly awe struck at this
what the hell is wrong with the world that so many people live in such irrational fear of their own government, as you obviously do?
irrational fear, that's all i see in your words. alternatingly hilarious and scary. i fear that so many so-called men are such cowering pantywaists when it comes to the meanign and purpose of their own fucking democratically elected government
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
is a double edged sword
it can be used as proof to exonerate you from frames and punitive blind prosecution in more ways than it can be manipulated to make you seem culpable
if it is the word of the government versus a citizen, the citizen needs witnesses on his side since the government is seen as more credible. i'll take street cameras supporting my version of the story over a scenario of just my word versus the government's word, any day
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Oh hello, this is the UK. I say, would you mind lending us some of your politicians? We'd be very much obliged.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
Massachusetts isn't going to let you in with an M4.
Or a Light Brite.