Perhaps some of you remember some time ago an area of Tampa, FL called Ybor City had a camera system installed on the "main strip," 7th Ave. This was very soon after 9/11 and our community was rabid for anything they could spend their tax dollars on to make them feel safe. Reactionary politicians in their haste decided to make Ybor City, Tampa's nightclub district, an example of new "terrorist recognition software." Captured images from cameras installed on the light poles on 7th Ave would compare face shots of the people milling around in our Bourbon Street-esque party district with wanted criminals and terrorists alike.
As time went on, the project cost more than it was worth in the number of people it actually helped bring in. If my memory serves me correctly, exactly 0 terror suspects and 0 criminals were recognized by the system. I suppose criminals and terrorists alike are smart enough to know that there are much darker and more dangerous places in Tampa to do their dirty deeds and could conduct their business and themselves elsewhere.
I think the point here is, every area of the country, and indeed the world, react differently to this idea. South Africa has been under oppression for decades. America has been "free" since it's inception. Britian is under rule of a "monotariat" as I like to call it, a figurehead ruler with a parliament (please don't argue that point, it's my opinion, and I'm entitled). Each government, thus each culture, are completely different in their determination and their beliefs as to what their rights actually are. Certainly, PRIVACY is not something that is enjoyed by all cultures, and is given to the people in varying degrees depending on where you live. It even varies from city to city in the US.
The camera system has now been removed from 7th Ave. It was effectively replaced by none other than more cops. So be it!
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Perhaps some of you remember some time ago an area of Tampa, FL called Ybor City had a camera system installed on the "main strip," 7th Ave. This was very soon after 9/11 and our community was rabid for anything they could spend their tax dollars on to make them feel safe. Reactionary politicians in their haste decided to make Ybor City, Tampa's nightclub district, an example of new "terrorist recognition software." Captured images from cameras installed on the light poles on 7th Ave would compare face shots of the people milling around in our Bourbon Street-esque party district with wanted criminals and terrorists alike.
As time went on, the project cost more than it was worth in the number of people it actually helped bring in. If my memory serves me correctly, exactly 0 terror suspects and 0 criminals were recognized by the system. I suppose criminals and terrorists alike are smart enough to know that there are much darker and more dangerous places in Tampa to do their dirty deeds and could conduct their business and themselves elsewhere.
I think the point here is, every area of the country, and indeed the world, react differently to this idea. South Africa has been under oppression for decades. America has been "free" since it's inception. Britian is under rule of a "monotariat" as I like to call it, a figurehead ruler with a parliament (please don't argue that point, it's my opinion, and I'm entitled). Each government, thus each culture, are completely different in their determination and their beliefs as to what their rights actually are. Certainly, PRIVACY is not something that is enjoyed by all cultures, and is given to the people in varying degrees depending on where you live. It even varies from city to city in the US.
The camera system has now been removed from 7th Ave. It was effectively replaced by none other than more cops. So be it!