INTRODUCTION


Within the 21st century, we live in what could be identified as a ‘surveillance society’. Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are mounted upon every street corner and store (Kroener 2014), and various corporations have launched satellites into space which possess the ability to record high definition imaging in real-time. Naturally, one of the most prominent reasons for the usage of such widespread surveillance has arisen due to prevalent criminal activity. However, this apparent need for eyes in the skies is a controversial issue, with many individuals within society arguing that their personal privacy is in jeopardy. Conversely, a large proportion of society follows the ideal that sacrificing privacy is a small price to pay, in order to ensure personal safety (Yesil 2009). This report provides a brief history of the rise of CCTV, and further explores the need for and usage of video surveillance in today’s society. In addition, ethical issues regarding governments, society, and privacy are discussed, including both supporting and opposing views in regards to surveillance. The purpose of this report is to give a general overview of the use of video surveillance, highlight the controversy revolving around such a significant piece of technology, and provide accounts for and against, in order to provide the reader with a balanced discussion of varying ideals and opinions relating to contemporary societal quandaries. The sources used for the information within this report have been gathered from notable books and journal articles which have been published online.



















VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

The rise of CCTV
During the 1950s-60s, closed circuit television underwent development and public implementation with relatively little, if any, resistance by the public. Most notably, the application of second generation surveillance marked the shift from ‘paper surveillance’ (Surette 2005). Disastrous events within society, such as the 9/11 bombings, have further prompted already common safety and security concerns. Crime and safety threats have resulted in the expected installation of CCTV cameras within every school, business, and government building as a standard (Geoghegan 2011).




Crime and the need for video surveillance
The primary need for the implementation of CCTV cameras, and video surveillance as a whole, is due to increasing crime and safety concerns within society. It is apparent that crime will undoubtedly occur where there is no presence of surveillance. McLean, Worden and Kim (2013) found that crime and disorderly conduct are far less likely to occur under the surveillance of public cameras. The New York study assessed monthly counts of crime and complaints of disorderly conduct which occurred within the view of specific cameras, before and after their activation.

A study by Lim and Wilcox (2017) based in Cincinnati, Idaho, revealed that there were proven differences in crime rates where CCTV cameras were involved. Changes were proven to minimalise within residential areas in particular, with regards to burglary, assault, and robberies.

ETHICS

Government and surveillance







Privacy and Surveillance
Within today’s technologically-based society, some of the most commonly used forms of surveillance are available in the forms of smartphones and social networking. Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, are some of the world’s most popular networking applications, where millions of photos, videos, and personal information are shared daily, effectively blurring the lines of privacy and consent. Odoemelam (2015) argues that due to this constant subconscious invasion of privacy, individuals become unaware and accustomed to having little privacy within their lives, and are therefore hardly resistant to technological and societal changes, particularly those which involve governmental surveillance over citizens. The extent of surveillance, particularly in the UK and the Netherlands, has extended to the extreme case of audio surveillance, where CCTV cameras are recording both auditorily and visually, using highly sensitive microphones (Rengel 2013).



CONCLUSION

The use of video surveillance technologies within the 21st century is arguably a necessity. Utilised with the intent of preventing crime, or at the very least tracking and catching criminals, these surveillance tactics have been proven in some instances to have a positive impact on crime rates. There seems to be a general consensus that the usage of video surveillance in public areas is needed, if not wanted.