Safety v. Privacy (page 3 of 4)

Public Ready to Accept Surveillance

Like respondents to Reader's Digest's Family Index survey, 69 percent of whom approved of authorities placing surveillance cameras in public locations, Chicagoans seem comfortable with the scrutiny. To date, there hasn't been a public outcry opposing it. One reason the public appears ready to accept the widespread use of surveillance cameras may stem from fears unleashed by the September 11 attacks. Courts, meanwhile, have almost universally backed the use of such cameras. Cities from coast to coast are taking advantage. In Los Angeles, cameras are focused on one of the world's most famous streets, Hollywood Boulevard. The hope is that they will deter drug dealing and prostitution.

In Washington, D.C., cameras monitor Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, public schools and federal agencies, and watch from behind observation windows at the Washington Monument, peering down on the thousands of tourists who visit the landmark each day.

In New York, by some estimates, 5,000-plus government and private cameras scanned the city during last summer's Republican National Convention. Some law enforcement agents even wore cameras on their helmets.

Huberman says the city is sensitive to and has addressed concerns about abuse. For example, a written policy spells out unacceptable viewing techniques, such as peering inside the walls of public and private buildings.

Also, the images collected by the cameras aren't stored permanently, but saved for a period of time, then destroyed. That allows for a review in case of a complaint, though Huberman says none have come in yet. Mayor Daley adds, "We're not inside your home or business. We own the sidewalk. We don't own private property."

Those who do own private property may have helped pave the way for the public's acceptance of so much camera surveillance. I took an informal survey one day and found myself in the cross hairs of two sets of building cameras before I'd even made it the few blocks to my garage.

Light-pole-mounted cameras were aimed at my car as I passed through an intersection, poised to snap a shot of my license plate if I ran a red light (a $90 ticket in the mail lets you know you're nabbed). A tiny eye watched me use an ATM. Another tracked me as I entered a parking garage.

• Election '08
• Better America
• • Security Threats

• Bad Laws Passed on Capital Hill
• Really bad laws are getting a blind vote on Capitol Hill.
• 
• Homeland Insecurity
• Your tax dollars are hard at work fighting terrorists... in all the wrong places.
• 
• Radiofrequency Identification Devices and Privacy
• Do radiofrequency identification devices represent a significant threat to our right to privacy?
• 
• Car Monitoring Systems Threaten Privacy
• From black boxes to GPS devices, your car is recording your every move.
• 

• Be Inspired
• 10 Celebrities Who Give Back
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• PLUS:
• Quiz: What's Your Celebrity Cause IQ?

After our air conditioner broke down, we called for a serviceman to come and take a look at it. It turned out he was a high school classmate of my husband's, a man named Love. He said to ask for him the next time we had any problems. The following year, when we needed service again, we requested Mr. Love. I took the day off from my job to be there. After he finished repairing our air conditioner, he left his work order behind. On it was written my name and the scheduling instructions: "Wants Love in afternoon."

-- Donna Meller, Beloit, Wis.