Security Cameras Proliferate in Manhattan

Iria · Aug 14, 2005, 08:21 PM

Security Cameras Proliferate in Manhattan, Pleasing Police and Disturbing Civil Libertarians

NEW YORK Aug 14, 2005 — Six could be seen peering out from a chain drug store on Broadway. One protruded awkwardly from the awning of a fast-food restaurant. A supersized, domed version hovered like a flying saucer outside Columbia University.

All were surveillance cameras and to the dismay of civil libertarians and with the approval of law enforcement they've been multiplying at a dizzying rate all over Manhattan.

"As many as we find, we miss so many more," Alex Stone-Tharp, 21, said on a recent afternoon while combing the streets, clipboard in hand, counting cameras in the scorching heat.

A student at Sarah Lawrence, Stone-Tharp is among a dozen college interns enlisted by the New York Civil Liberties Union to bolster their side of a simmering debate over whether surveillance cameras wrongly encroach on privacy, or effectively combat crime and even terrorism as in the London bombings investigation, when the cameras were used to identify the bombers.

The interns have spent the summer stalking Big Brother collecting data for an upcoming NYCLU report on the proliferation of cameras trained on streets, sidewalks and other public spaces.

At last count in 1998, the organization found 2,397 cameras used by a wide variety of private businesses and government agencies throughout Manhattan. This time, after canvassing less than a quarter of the borough, the interns so far have spotted more than 4,000.
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Read More / Source: ABC News

***craig5320*** · Aug 14, 2005, 08:28 PM

I don't see the problem here?

The recent events in London show just how useful Cameras are, I have no problem being filmed where I walk in the city centre or London, or my hometown Manchester. Why? Because I do nothing wrong.

This isn't big brother watching you, this is Big Brother watching OUT for you.

Aug 14, 2005, 08:21 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 74	Security Cameras Proliferate in Manhattan Security Cameras Proliferate in Manhattan, Pleasing Police and Disturbing Civil Libertarians NEW YORK Aug 14, 2005 — Six could be seen peering out from a chain drug store on Broadway. One protruded awkwardly from the awning of a fast-food restaurant. A supersized, domed version hovered like a flying saucer outside Columbia University. All were surveillance cameras and to the dismay of civil libertarians and with the approval of law enforcement they've been multiplying at a dizzying rate all over Manhattan. "As many as we find, we miss so many more," Alex Stone-Tharp, 21, said on a recent afternoon while combing the streets, clipboard in hand, counting cameras in the scorching heat. A student at Sarah Lawrence, Stone-Tharp is among a dozen college interns enlisted by the New York Civil Liberties Union to bolster their side of a simmering debate over whether surveillance cameras wrongly encroach on privacy, or effectively combat crime and even terrorism as in the London bombings investigation, when the cameras were used to identify the bombers. The interns have spent the summer stalking Big Brother collecting data for an upcoming NYCLU report on the proliferation of cameras trained on streets, sidewalks and other public spaces. At last count in 1998, the organization found 2,397 cameras used by a wide variety of private businesses and government agencies throughout Manhattan. This time, after canvassing less than a quarter of the borough, the interns so far have spotted more than 4,000. __________ Read More / Source: ABC News Last edited by Iria; Aug 14, 2005 at 08:49 PM.

Aug 14, 2005, 08:28 PM	#2
*craig5320* DH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 279 System Specs	I don't see the problem here? The recent events in London show just how useful Cameras are, I have no problem being filmed where I walk in the city centre or London, or my hometown Manchester. Why? Because I do nothing wrong. This isn't big brother watching you, this is Big Brother watching OUT for you. __________________