Security vs. Privacy, Essay Example

Security is a daily concern to every household, business and the world as a whole. For a long time criminal activities like robbery, rape, murder have been a threat to all humanity. There has been an attempt to end these ill acts with no much success.  Recently, advancement in technology has come in handy to solve security issues which have improved through the use of devices such as surveillance cameras. An obvious example is in the supermarkets. The cameras in a supermarket are set up in every corner recording every move of the customers hence easy to detect any form of crime. This has decreased the rate of shoplifting in the supermarkets as the customers know that they are being watched as they shop.

Another case scenario where surveillance cameras are used is in traffic.  Accidents and congestions are easily detected and responded to all around the networks of the road. This ensures safety as the operators do their thing. The cameras also come as a safety tool in industries where the processes involved could be harmful and uncomfortable to workers. So to make it easier they use cameras to monitor the harmful processes. In the normal home setup, a mum can use a surveillance camera to monitor her baby in another room as she does other chores. In prisons, surveillance video cameras play a key role in providing security in easier and more effective ways. In the modern time a prison can be monitored over the internet by using a digitally-networked surveillance system. Cameras can also be installed in prison corridors and in the cells to upgrade the security during normal day activities of inmates. This also ensures that the behavior of the prison officers is maintained to the required standards.

What if one realizes that somebody has been watching them through a security camera as they were fitting on clothes in a mall? What of that camera which points at every person who enters your room just because it is put in the hallway? How about a kid who accidentally watches his mum and dad make out? Or the inmate whose only last hope of privacy is invaded just because his every move has to be monitored for security purposes? Does that entail security? So the big question is, are these cameras a crime fighting tool or privacy-invading devices?

Washington Post- ABC News Poll (2007) respondents are reported to have supported the increased use of these cameras however; a quarter was not for the idea. In the political spectrum, two thirds of democrats and eighty five percent of republicans were in support of the idea. In age groups, sixty three percent of those aged thirty five years and below supported the plan while in those aged fifty five years and above, it is seventy nine percent that supported. Two thirds of city dwellers were supportive while suburban dwellers were even more for the idea. Seventy percent of married men preferred surveillance cameras as opposed to fifty seven percent of bachelors.

Goold (2008), responds to Jesper Ryberg’s article by arguing the point on whether speaking of privacy rights in places that would be termed as public holds any meaning and the chance that these rights would frame the basis for restricting or regulating usage of the surveillance cameras. Ryberg’s article insists that there is little difference between having CCTV cameras and private individuals.   Without explaining further about the article, it took a few minutes and people decided to discuss on how they would want to be walking around the shops without the worry of someone from a different group taking photos of them or recording them. It therefore seems that so many people are for the idea that security cameras interfere with the privacy.

In addition to the advantages of the surveillance cameras as discussed earlier, it can also be used to catch people committing crime in the act. People feel that surveillance cameras should not be put up everywhere because there have stolen away a sense of freedom. Civilians also feel that these cameras carry so much information that is theirs and would not want to even trust the government.

Loggins (2002) tells about the fourteen former Nashville Kats cheerleaders, who were videotaped without a clue of what of happening in the dressing room at Gaylord Entertainment Center. They filed civil damages worth thirteen million dollars against the arena’s management firm and two others of its former employees. In the law suit, it is stated that employees with powers management placed hidden video cameras as a routine throughout the arena as a security measure and at least an occasion during the previous summer, there were video tapes made of the women in their dressing room.

The above lawsuit is very relevant as the cheerleaders ought to have been consulted to ensure that they would be comfortable. Another suit would be a good example where Riley (2003) explains about the Overton County parents who got upset that in the school locker rooms, their children had been filmed while undressing. The school officials were charged of having allowed installation of surveillance cameras and failed to put some security to the images. The damages required by the parents amounted to four million two hundred thousand dollars.

The above incidences explain the seriousness of invasion of privacy in terms of law and the penalty involved. There should be law on surveillance cameras where a line is drawn between security and violation of privacy. That way, every person responsible of putting up a camera should be aware of the pros and cons of that act.

Works Cited

Agiesta J. July 31 2007. Washington Post- ABC News Poll. surveillance cameras: Retrieved on July 26, 2009 from http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers

Goold B.April. 22, 2008. The difference between lonely old ladies and CCTV cameras: UK: Springer Netherlands press

Loggins. K. 23 March 2002. 14 cheerleaders sue over camera in dressing area: Tennessee. USA. Retrieved on July 26,2009 from http://www.notbored.org/camera-abuses.html

Riley. C. 1 July 2003. Overton county schools sued over locker room filming. Overton County, Tennessee. Retrieved on July 26,2009 from http://www.notbored.org/camera-abuses.html