Infinite MonkeysOnce again, there's a lot of hype about the "talking" CCTV cameras in Britain. There's legitimate big brother concerns of a bunch of bureaucrats yelling at you for littering (to some extent, it replaces societal pressures that have faded in a more anonymous society, but that's another discussion). But the bigger concern is this: given that not every camera will be monitored every moment, if you're about to mug someone, shouldn't you just litter first to see if you're being watched? If no one yells at you, well then, Robert's your father's brother, as they say on that strange little island...
Posted by David at April 4, 2007 11:31 PMPenn had an interesting thought on surveillance: It can be any/everywhere, but the cameras should all be on the Internet and anyone should be able to watch them. I'm not sure I agree with the first part, given my general desire to just be left alone to pick my nose in private, but:
1. It sure beats cameras to which only "the authorities" have access.
2. It provides as much (or more) protection FROM abuse by police, etc.
3. It accepts that technological advances are inevitable and makes the best of them, rather than restricting their use in a way that gives the advantage to government.
The more I hear about Britain's CCTV surveillance system and now talking CCTV camera's, the more I am reminded of this....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner
Posted by: sanclemman at April 8, 2007 11:08 PM