The City of Chicago has amost 2000 surveillance cameras, and will be adding another 250 by 2006. The cameras are currently set up at O’Hare International Airport, in public housing overseen by the Chicago Housing Authority, on the city transit lines, in parks, and in schools. These cameras will be tied into the 911 center.
\nThe cameras will be checking for bags abandonded in stairwells, for movement in areas off limits to citizens, for a person falling, and for erratic behavior, among other things.
\nMayor Daley was quoted as saying “We own the sidewalk. We own the street and we own the alley.” Since these cameras are only in public areas, according to Daley, there will be no invasion of privacy.
\nIn designing the system, representatives studied how the casinos and hotels in Las Vegas used their surveillance cameras. The Pentagon, and London have similar systems. When cameras were installed on the streets of the west side of Chicago last year, drug trafficing cut back, and there were fewer calls to report the sale of drugs on the street.
\nI’m torn. I can see both sides of this issue. As a law abiding citizen, I don’t mind being watched in a public place. If this were to give law enforcement a leg up on detering the incredible incidence of crime, and it seems to function that way, it should be a good thing.
\nBut…..I worry that this could be the start of the slippery slope. If we are observed as we walk to work, or as we drive past certain intersections, will someone eventually create software that will track our activities? I know that it’s possible for lawyers to petition the tollway for records showing that someone has used the IPass on a certain day, at a certain time, so we can’t be far from it.
\nHow do you feel about it? Give up a little freedom to cut back on potential terrorism and make our streets safer? Or….no cameras….no loss of freedom, but greater risk?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The City of Chicago has amost 2000 surveillance cameras, and will be adding another 250 by 2006. The cameras are currently set up at O’Hare International Airport, in public housing overseen by the Chicago Housing Authority, on the city transit … Continue reading