Police In North Carolina Want Citizens To Register Their Private Surveillance Systems
The Surf City Police Department in North Carolina is looking to have citizens register their private home and business surveillance systems with the town's police department; dubbed the 'More Eyes To Deter Crime' community policing program.
They are looking to encourage both business owners and residents to register their cameras with the police department so that the police will supposedly have an even better eye on the area when it comes to trying to find a criminal threat.
At the moment, the police just use CCTV and other city cameras in order to try and find someone or use the footage in order to determine if a crime occurred etc. If they suspect that a gas station or some other business/home residence has a camera that might have caught some video footage that they would be interested in, those officers need to then obtain a warrant before they can access that footage.
Having residents sign up their own private surveillance systems is going to save them a lot of time and effort when trying to track down footage that might be valuable. But it also poses a privacy concern; giving the state even more eyes in order to spy on the people.
Registration for the program thus far is voluntary and video surveillance systems that are going to sign-up to be included will allegedly not be monitored or controlled by the town's police department. It still isn't clear exactly who is going to have access to the footage.
For those who do want to be a part of the program, they will receive a sticker when they sign up that specifies that their property and camera system is working in partnership with the Surf City Police Department. To get started, citizens can register online and they can also cancel their registration any time that they want.
If Surf City sees a lot of success, might other cities then look toward doing the same thing?
Pics:
Pixabay
Safewise
Sources:
http://portcitydaily.com/2017/04/29/local-shout-surf-city-police-launch-more-eyes-to-deter-crime-community-policing-program/
http://www.wect.com/story/35231770/surf-city-pd-launches-more-eyes-to-deter-crime-program
I can see this being used two ways
1 - benevolently - you register your cameras and what they can see i.e. their field of view. The cop still need to get a warrant when they think there is evidence from your camera. They never have live view, and never control the camera.
2 - the way they will be (mis)used - for everything from voyeurism to blackmail to shaming people, to 'inventing' crime.... And I see this not as a whole of government thing (they have much bigger things to think about - like starting new wars and such) but more of a local power play thing. Lots of local politics and stuff going on that would benefit from being able to effectively spy on and bribe / threaten people.
Remember, it may not be you camera that they look through. It could be your neighbours across the street. Just when you think you are getting away with a little afternoon delight, your boss might get an email saying that you are not really at that job you said you were at. The threat of that sort of action will be enough to keep many people compliant.
I have security cameras. I'm happy for the cops to come and ask me for some footage if they think it will help catch some bad guys. They won't even need a warrant. All they have to do is say 'please'. But they don't get to control my cameras and they have no rights to my content.
If they were to go down that route, then I would remove the cameras.
I guess it comes down to what sort of police state you live in. Thankfully I don't live in the US, so I still have some semblance of freedom. How much longer that will last is anyone's guess.
In the EU they make you register your cattle and force you to buy insurance, if you are a farmer.
So I am really not surprized by this, the bureaucracy has reached metastatis and now it's destroying everything.
They need control over video that might show them in a bad light. If someone is found in possession of 'unregistered' video, the truth could be silenced with the law.
Would everyone end up registering every camera they own, or face fines? Sounds like a power grab/ money maker to me.
More thought out reaction than mine. Registration allows for conformity. And access. To be able to look through every camera operating In your city?....
I'm trying to think of how many different ways this could be abused. I'm afraid these are only a couple options. Usually, if the control freaks can think of it, they'll do it.
It's been a panopticon for a while. Now it's growing resolution.
a fascists dream!
hmm... won't registering it means it's not "private" anymore?
I copied this meme from a pro-gun page and updated it with RC aircraft clipart back when the drone registration laws were new. Now I added a camera, too.
I have security cameras and I'd never register my cameras willingly. I would feel less safe. It might tempt cops to watch peoples cameras anytime they want and spy on people. We live out in the woods with no close neighbors. My husband likes to pee outside. I'd be afraid a cop would be watching and send him a ticket for indecent exposure. lol
Oh HELL no.
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