Electronic Monitoring, Questionnaire Example

What common applications of electronic monitoring or surveillance equipment are there? List at least three examples.

There are various applications of the electronic surveillance devices. They include:

• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Breathalyzer Monitor
• Ignition Interlock

Does knowing that an electronic security device is in place make you feel more secure? Provide at least one example if it does or answer why it does not make you feel more secure.

Knowing that there is some electronic surveillance in place makes me feel secure. For example, the CCTV cameras elected at every corner of the streets and buildings assure me of adequate security even at the most weird hours of the day. I feel it is good that there are electronic devices in place.

Is electronic surveillance equipment an invasion of privacy? Are there any pending court cases dealing with this? Find at least two examples to defend your posting.

Yes, electronic monitoring invades privacy in some instances. Though the grievances may be secondary to the main purpose of electronic monitoring, at some point privacy and other human rights are bleached. For instance, in a case whereby CCTV footage of a man trying to commit suicide in Sussex was sold to media and published to the public without masking. This led to a European court ruling for compensation of the man for invading privacy.

Consider the trade-off between security and privacy. In what cases is one more important than the other? If you can find reference to examples, please include those.

Security surpasses privacy in most cases. I would prefer security at the expense of my privacy. As investors, people would like to have optimal security despite the consequences. According to Bianchini (2000), statistics have shown that the presence of CCTV surveillance in buildings and public places minimizes the rate of incidences such as pick pocketing, theft, burglary and other criminal incidents by over 60%.

References

http://www.oakgov.com/commcorr/program_service/electronic_monitor.html

http://www.out-law.com/page-3290

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:aaC6_WgQx-AJ:www.ncstl.org/files/NCSTL%2520Conf%2520Docs/Brinkley.ppt+cctv+and+privacy+cases&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk

Bianchini, F. The Crisis of urban public social life in Britain: Origins of the problem and possible responses, Planning, Policy and Research, Vol. 5, No. 3 pp. 4-8