As expected, the current line on these lights is that these homeland security (seriously, that's what they call them) features are not being utilized, and they have no current plans to do so. But that also hints there might be *future* plans to do so.
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| Here one is. |
It might sound like I'm completely against this, but I'm not, in principle. You can't have 100% security and 100% safety, they're mutually exclusive. Some monitoring has to take place in the interests of public security. The question is, will these contribute to that, or will they be a violation of the rights to privacy that we do have? Remember, if you are in a public place, your privacy rights are limited. DO you have the right to privacy and confidentiality on the grounds of city hall, or while you're in a restaurant, or only at home? Even legal experts aren't sure.
One other thing I'll mention; the fact they are wireless presents a potentially significant security risk. Although everything is recorded to a server, the ability to intercept recordings or take control of the lights is very real. Wireless signals are very susceptible to manipulation.
One other thing I'll mention; the fact they are wireless presents a potentially significant security risk. Although everything is recorded to a server, the ability to intercept recordings or take control of the lights is very real. Wireless signals are very susceptible to manipulation.
Continuing on the theme of whipping the public into a frenzy, there is another article linked in the original one about safety warnings being broadcast in Wal*Mart stores. While the intentions are good, I can see this leading to far more trouble than it might be worth, causing everyone to think everyone else is suspicious. Has anyone actually seen these?
Remember, we do need to intercept people who are planning something terrible. But do we need to monitor everyone in the process? Slippery slope, or necessary evil?
This is a touchy subject for many people. Some people are so, so, so against being knowingly or unknowingly videotaped, while others could care less. I fall in the latter group – I don’t care. It just doesn’t bother me and I think it is a necessary evil. I do feel safer knowing there are video camera’s around, though, especially when I’m at Wal Mart at night by myself :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is a slippery slope. As you stated about the movie Minority Report, that the government would read the people's eyes and be able to tell if they are a criminal, or even if they have the potential to become one in the future, and attempt to stop it. That could lead to some hefty problems, you know, if someone were to post something on the internet that the government did not like, boom. Locked up. Also, as the above person mentioned, yeah most people could care less, but I wholeheartedly disagree with that. That is basically giving up your rights for privacy saying that you 'have nothing to hide' but is basically allowing the government to look at whatever they want, whenever they want to. I don't think that is a good way to look at this whole situation.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of being recorded and monitored without my knowledge, however I do respect the safety side of this type of technology, I don't see how you draw the line between safety and invasion of privacy. It seems to me that by continuing to promote the monitoring of other people and their potentially "suspicious" activity, we only support the act of spying on others...more specifically, suspecting our neighbors of doing wrong. Everyone has the potential of being suspicious in someone else s eyes. If we continually feed the fire, we will get burned!
ReplyDeleteIt is understandable that there should be monitoring to provide security for the public and the country as a whole. It does seem like it could be a violation of privacy when you consider that you could be the one recorded by a video or by audio, especially when you know you are clearly not endangering or a threat. I don’t know if the Intellistreet lights are as frightening, but one thing that is frightening is the fact this type of light is controlled from an I Pad. Any system could be hacked by the right person, but what if this light was hacked and used to observe people and record them. The article about Wal-Mart and their security homeland is interesting too. Considering there is already a website, the people of Wal-Mart, based off how strange people might be and the types of odd things that are worn, how do you know when to report something that is actually suspicious? I think this could cause a problem.
ReplyDeleteThe intellistreet lights are a necessary evil. Although people have ever right to privacy, it is also their duty to keep what's private, private. In other words, don't do private things in public places because there's a chance someone will discover it, period. My concern is where are they going to be place and at what distance can video be captured?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that no matter where you go these days, someone is always watching you. With the Patriot Act, some people aren't even safe in the comfort of their own homes. It looks to me like a few bad apples are spoiling the whole batch. On the other hand though, it might help to deter crime and make people feel more safe if there are cameras out and about. One thing that is for certain though is that we all need to consider the tradeoff between security and privacy.
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