Are Security Cameras an Invasion of Privacy?

Security cameras are the ones that are used to reduce the level or rate of crime. It is an element that prevents the criminal activities including theft and robbery. The security cameras are mostly used in the local and general places like streets, buildings, schools, colleges, universities, offices, shopping plazas and many other public areas. The security cameras are considered as effective to record all the activities that are occurring in the place where these are installed. The government and criminal justice system of the countries are the major authorities that are responsible for the installation of security cameras. However local authorities and administrative systems of the societies also the ones which consider this fact and install the security cameras to reduce the crimes in the society. Some people consider that security cameras are an invasion of privacy, but opponents suggest several reasons and better arguments that present the fact that these are not an invasion of privacy and effective to reduce the criminal activities.

The use of security cameras for the purpose of security is called surveillance. These are used mainly to protect the societies from the crimes and used as an investigative tool. The results of a study show that among 251 crimes investigation, more than 190 crimes are the ones that are recorded from 2011 to 2015 in the railway system of British Transport Police. In 45 percent cases, more than 29 percent were the ones that were sorted out due to the installation of security cameras (Ashby 441-459). Moreover, the study suggested that there is a strong relationship between increasing the number of security cameras with the decrease in the rate of criminal activities.

The study recommended that the security cameras are a powerful tool for the investigations of crimes (Ashby 441-459). Additionally, in the public areas such as shopping plazas security cameras are playing an important role and decreasing the rate of crime occurrences (Dutta). In the modern technological world, the security cameras are able to record, video, voice, and sound. Due to these cameras the universities, colleges, and high school violence could be prevented and spotted. At the workplaces, these cameras are helpful to spot the violence, cases of harassment, bullying, and abuse. By the use of these cameras, the employers could judge the workplace environment and find out the people who are creating trouble for the other employees. With the proof of video recording, several types of crimes are spotted and prevented (Dutta). The prevention occurs when people know about the availability of cameras, so they always try to behave in a particular manner.

Security cameras are efficient and valuable to track down the terrorists behind any terrorist attacks. Due to these facts, people are more comfortable with the presence of security cameras at the public places so that their security could be ensured. “Now that big cities are using security cameras to collect data as well as images, privacy watchdog groups are beginning to question just how necessary a lot of this public surveillance is (“Are Security Cameras an Invasion of Privacy? | Protect America”). The answer is simple, yes these are necessary to protect the society and ensure the peaceful environment. When it comes to the matter of privacy, the cameras are not there to interrupt in the privacy of people, but there to ensure that people are safe and to record the uncertain events. The safety of public and private institutions, universities, colleges, shopping plazas, malls, restaurants, and other public places are more important than considering the fact that security cameras are an invasion of privacy. In the public places, security cameras are significant because it prevents the criminal behavior of people. When certain street criminals are aware of the fact that their activities will be recorded in the camera, they mostly do not perform their criminal activities.

In 2013, the Boston Marathon Bombing attacks and in 2008, Mumbai, India attacks are the ones in which the security cameras significantly added positive value. The cameras were installed at the places and recorded all the necessary information. The most important benefit of the incidents was that the cameras captured the pictures of attackers. Similarly, the presence of security cameras is helpful to detect the crime and plays a positive role in the criminal procedures. The opponents of the security cameras argue that these cameras are an unethical measure towards the privacy of people. These opponents link their arguments with the human rights and present their concept that the presence of security cameras is a threat to the privacy of humans. The security cameras always constantly monitor the place, which disturbs the people who are present on the place. The critics argue that the installation of a security camera in every public place will lead to some disadvantages such as it is against the civil liberties of people (Pradhan). But by considering this factor, public places are surely created for the ease of public but the people who feel uncomfortable in front of the camera should consider the fact that these cameras are saving them from trouble.

What if the cameras are not present, some people will surely complain that they are convicted of a crime due to the negligence of criminal justice system or the government system. The national and societal security is more important than the security of an individual and it is completely inappropriate that security cameras are uninstalled only to secure the privacy of people and their civil rights. People should be the one who should acknowledge the importance of security cameras and how these are helpful to reduce the crimes and effective to investigate the crimes.

Opponents argue that not only the privacy of an individual will compromise in the presence of security cameras also it will lead to the mental trouble of the people. When people realize the factor that security cameras are consistently monitoring them and they’re each measure, and it could harm their intellectual privacy (Pradhan). Simply the people will consider that they are in a constant environment of monitoring and will not able to work properly. This thought is similar to the fact that people will be uncomfortable when they consider that someone is consistently watching them. In the favor of this concept, the arguments are quite correct. But it does not mean that the security cameras are an invasion of privacy. Security cameras are mostly installed in public places to reduce the crime rate. The public places are the ones that are always open to the general public and provide them space to generate their social connections.

The presence of security cameras could disturb some people but not all because many people always favor the installation of security cameras in the public places. The people who do not feel comfortable should be trained in a manner that they will recognize the importance of security cameras over the concept of their privacy. It will lead to the increment of their satisfaction level and reduce the threat of being monitored all the time.

Some people consider that security cameras are an invasion of privacy, but opponents suggest several reasons and better arguments that present the fact that these are not an invasion of privacy and effective to reduce the criminal activities. It is due to the most important fact that national security is always greater than the privacy rights of an individual. If the security cameras are a threat to the privacy rights of the people then government authorities should conduct proper training for the awareness of general public so that they will realize the significance of security cameras. The people are scared mostly due to the concept that government is judging their each and every movement, and it will have their private information as well (Spillmann, pg. 24). In this way, the government authorities should ensure the safety of the people’s privacy.

Works Cited

“Are Security Cameras An Invasion Of Privacy? | Protect America.” Home and Life Blog. N.p., 2017. Web. 21 Mar. 2018.

Ashby, Matthew P. J. “The Value Of CCTV Surveillance Cameras As An Investigative Tool: An Empirical Analysis.” European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 23.3 (2017): 441-459. Web.

Dutta, Pullab. “What Are The Benefits Of Surveillance Cameras? | Techwalla.Com.” Techwalla. N.p., 2018. Web. 21 Mar. 2018.

Pradhan, Sucheta. “Are Security Cameras An Invasion Of Privacy? Read Before Judging.” Buzzle. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2018.

Spillmann, Kurt R. Setting The 21St Century Security Agenda. Bern [u.a.]: Lang, 2003. Print.