Visualizing The Future
Surveillance
Surveillance is an extremely popular subject
in movies, starting with the James Bond series. The Bond movies
have introduced the public to a slew of gadgets used by spies,
everything from the pen camera to computer simulations of
advanced weapons systems.
Video surveillance is particularly controversial, and the
subject has even been labeled "Big Brother." It seems video
cameras are mounted everywhere, in banks, casinos, grocery
stores, shopping malls, train stations, airplanes and airports
and even on street corners.
The private detective is a popular character in movies, using
a variety of surveillance devices to spy on cheating spouses,
shady deals, and murder plots.
Video surveillance began with simple closed circuit television
monitoring. As early as 1965, there were press reports in
the United States suggesting police use of surveillance cameras
in public places. By the 70s, closed circuit television (CCTV)
systems were watched by officers at all times.
Video cassette recorders revolutionized the surveillance industry.
Analog technology using taped video cassette recordings meant
surveillance could be preserved on tape as evidence.
Video surveillance systems are used to monitor traffic flow
as well as a means of capturing traffic offenders. Through
the 80s and 90s, more businesses began installing systems,
from corporate offices to mini-marts. TV shows like Cops and
FBI's Most Wanted continuously replay crimes and criminals
captured on tape, or digitally.
The Rodney King beating became controversial largely because
it was captured on film, even though it was not a true act
of surveillance.
The insurance industry found video surveillance very useful in worker's compensation fraud, bogus
accident claims and a variety of other insurance fraud cases. Such video surveillance can help keep
liability insurance
premiums down by cutting out fraud. Fraudulent types claiming disability think twice now that video
cameras can capture them living life as usual, such as the loss of using one's legs, meanwhile
captured on film dancing at a party.
Video provides more compelling evidence in marital affair
and abuse cases than still photos. Videos can show a sequence
of events clearly tied together, whereas still photos are
more subject to interpretation. For instance, in an abuse
case, a still photo might capture an enraged father with his
arm stretched out and fist clenched. But without evidence
of victim and the victim being struck by the abuser, it's
left to a jury to decide credibility.
There still remains the problem of owners and employees of
various businesses forgetting to replace tapes on a daily
basis, or reusing tapes and erasing what might have proved
to be damaging evidence in a criminal trial. Some poor quality
systems also produce poor quality film, where it's hard to
tell just exactly what is going on.
The Charged Coupled Device camera (CCD), which uses microchip
computer technology, is one way to solve the problem. Surveillance
is possible in low light and at night.
Digital Multiplexing units enable enabling recording on several
cameras at once (more than a dozen at time in some cases.
Digital multiplex also adds features like time-lapse and motion-only
recording, which saves a great deal of wasted videotape.
Credit card theft is so rampant, video cameras are now installed
at nearly every ATM across the United States and in most parts
of the world.
Because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, surveillance has become
a national priority. The downside is the issues of the use
of illegal wiretaps and other surveillance tactics and the
invasion of privacy. CCTV or video taped surveillance systems
are now used to cover major sporting and other events that
could be potential targets for terrorist attacks.
Digital video surveillance is fast replacing analog. Much
longer periods of time can be recorded on a single hard drive,
with image resolution much clearer. Digital images can also
be manipulated easier, like adding light, enhancing the image,
or zooming in on details.
Video (analog and digital) surveillance cameras are increasingly
being installed in public buildings, housing projects, and
parks and street corners to curb crime, particularly drug
selling and prostitution. Political rallies, parades and other
festivals are also targets for surveillance coverage.
Surveillance became personal with recent stories about abusive
or negligent nannies, baby sitters and housekeepers. Digital
cameras and webcams are now so small they can be hidden anywhere.
Software developers have refined programs that enhance video
surveillance, like facial recognition programs that compare
various key facial feature points to mug shots or photographs
of terrorists or criminals. Face recognition software installed
on video surveillance camera systems are increasingly being
installed in such places as the Statue of Liberty and throughout
all the casino/resorts in Vegas.
The Sydney International Airport in Australia is one of the
first airports to install SmartGate, an automated border crossing
system used for all airline crew members. Using photo biometrics,
the video surveillance systems scans the crew member's face
and compares it to the passport photo, confirming a match
in less than ten seconds.
Schools are increasingly installing face recognition video
surveillance for tracking missing children and registered
sex offenders, but not without controversial right to privacy
detractors.
The internet has enabled video surveillance to be installed
virtually anywhere and be watched from anywhere in the world.
Satellites enable images to be viewed on laptops. The eye
in the sky is a reality with digital streaming video.
Morality aside, technology used in current surveillance systems
is the same technology used in webcams used by amateur pornographers.
Webcams are set up to watch an individual engaged in every
activity from brushing teeth to having sex.
Because of the Internet and digital technology, cameras can
stream video 24/7 and be monitored via remote.
The speed of new photo-capture devices is taking surveillance
to a new level. With a Smartphone, pictures can be taken and
then sent to the police, all within seconds. Nearly everyone
has a cellphone, and cellphones are fast morphing into all-in-one-devices.
Law enforcement agencies are especially interested in integrated
devices where still and motion imagery can immediately be
matched against face recognition software.
Another downside of digital surveillance capability is that
whatever technology is available to law enforcement agencies
is also available to criminals and terrorists. How these devices
are used depends on the ingeniousness of criminals, and many
criminals are increasingly becoming quite tech-savvy.
The FBI falls under closer scrutiny than other law enforcement
agencies, largely because of their aggressiveness and willingness
to break into homes, offices, hotel rooms and vehicles. Computer
files get copied. Hidden cameras are installed. Microphones
record conversations meant to only take place in the bedroom.
Agents are known to have pried into safe deposit boxes, watched
from afar with video cameras and binoculars and intercepted
e-mails. The question is: who exactly is under surveillance?
Paparazzi don't behave much differently, except they are after
sensationalism and not crime.
Sometimes the FBI is backed by the courts, sometimes it isn't.
The secretive nature of the FBI--and the CIA--is certainly
the subject of numerous spy and crime novels and movies. One
of the most popular authors in the 21st century is John Grisham,
who claims in a Forward in one of his books that he knows
nothing about the spy business.
Continued public outcry against improper or illegal invasion
of privacy is not helping the FBI much in pursuing suspected
criminals and terrorists. Stories abound of average citizens
being spied on for no apparent reason. Myth or fact, the stories
do well to generate suspicion and fear.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, enacted in 1978
and revised after 7/11 by the Patriot Act, has given investigators
a potent arsenal against "agents of a foreign power." The
now current President Bush (as of 2006) is under attack for
allowing such investigations to go too far.
The right to privacy of communications from electronic surveillance
(such as bugging and wiretapping) is protected by several
federal and state statutes and by the Fourth Amendment to
the Constitution. But like all other matters of law, surveillance
cases are subject to interpretation. With technology becoming
more advanced and accessible, what constitutes surveillance
is questionable.
There is no end to the use of surveillance. Nations spy on
other nations. Governments spy on their citizenry. Law enforcement
agencies spy on criminals. Criminals spy on their victims.
Paparazzi spy on celebrities. Private detectives spy on cheating
spouses. Corporations and businesses spy on employees. Schools
spy on children while administrators spy on teachers. Parents
spy on their children and the next door neighbor.
The use of surveillance--possible because of optics technology-based
devices--is as much of a past time now as a baseball game
on Saturday. We spy on each other not necessarily because
we are looking for any wrong-doing, but just because we like
to watch each other.
^ Top ^