Eye in the sky..
In my quest to stay up to date on happenings of the city I am moving to (New Orleans) I found this website, Earth Cam. Thanks to the marvelous Satellite live footage, I can see who is doing what at anytime of day.
Now I have to pause and wonder. Is this an invasion of our privacy or merely another information tool? I have to say that if it were not for street cams, many crimes would not be solved. When is the line crossed?
At Earth Cam, you can view what is going on from places such as Paris, Times Square, New York, The Netherlands, Poland, the list is endless. One click of the mouse and you are staring in the face of someone half-way around the globe.
Say hello to New Orleans:
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/neworleans/bourbonstreet/
Greetings Moscow:
http://www.earthcam.com/russia/moscow/?cam=moscow_hd
We love New York, hello:
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/?cam=fridays
So I wonder what you all think. Are these street cams an invasion of our privacy or merely another tool to connect us worldwide?
I feel like they can keep us safe– maybe? If you’re living your life, doing your own thing then no problems, but if you’re a criminal or terrorist, then there might be a issue. It is a good question and I’m all about living in freedom but I think we live in dangerous times. Disturbing that it’s gotten so bad.
Think about if they had space cams during the time of Jack the Ripper or any time where there was a major criminal spree- weird right? Lots of mysteries solved.
I tend to agree with you.. I look at this technology more on the safety side vs invasion side. In reality what one does in public is for the public, right?
They are both an invasion of our privacy and a tool that helps solve crimes and connect us. In the future the idea of privacy will only be known to those in the corners of the Earth.
The important issue here, in response to AGrippingLife, is the dangers of police and government intrusion. Yes, those that commit crimes need to be caught, but who defines what a crime is, how much power do they wield, and how mercilessly do they enforce their “laws”?
Great point.. will something that is deemed “minor” become twisted into a “major” crime and before one knows it your are in cuffs, calling 1-800-lawyer10.. Seems to be a growing trend though in larger cities.. only time will tell if this is a hit or miss..
thanks for the visit & words
I’m leaning the other way, but maybe that is because the UK is the most
spied on</del) publicly protected nation in the world. And does it solve anything?? Has it reduced crime? Or improved detection rates? I don't have the answers although I guess I could look them up.Certainly here in Gib it would have been nice to have had them when our vehicle got trashed. Assuming they were working. Or pointing in the right direction.
No. I don't like being spied on (says the woman of countless blogs…..)
I don’t think I have a big issue with it if they are say on major city streets and such. Do I want one on the mailbox in my yard, not at all. In that case I will install my own security system..
Smile for the camera. It’s great for our safety, but if you watch too many of those “Big Bro is Watching” movies, it can be scary too.
damn, now I have to brush my hair and wear proper shoes when I go ou in the city
I think as long as the cameras are focused on public space, it isn’t an invasion of privacy.
True EG.. now when it shows up in public restrooms, etc then I think many will have a huge problem with that..
Doesn’t Google Maps have a thing where you can zoom right up to your house. When we looked at our house you could see our car. It was kind of creepy. Alas, we are in the age of the internet and I think anonymity is long gone.
Oh that google maps is freaky.. I saw my house one time even down to the trashcan @ the curb and dead flower bush
Craziness!
look smart out there, who knows who is watching us !1
Hmmm, well it’s inevitable I guess that things would come to this. And, in some respects it’s cool…a shrinking of the world.
But here’s my problem with it (at least one of them). When we were kids (I’m old) well before the interwebs and cameras in everyone’s pocket (or on the street lamp) we could do a lot of things and effectively get away with it. Sure sometimes we did really bad things and got caught by the man, but almost never would it ruin one of our lives. Today, our kids actions are documented for the world to see and remember forever. Today, because of cameras and lawyers (probably more them) cops can’t just give the kids a stern warning and bring them to their parents. Now, they need to take it to the next level for fear that someone will film them turning their cheek on something only to be sued by someone later.
Now instead of screwing up, getting a good whack from your dad and learning your lesson, kids are paying a much higher price at a much earlier point in their life.
We should all be very, very afraid to do anything for fear of a camera recording it.
Having said that, I love that I got a great view of the hot chick in her bikini skating by on the Mission Beach camera just now! http://www.earthcam.com/usa/california/sandiego/
Your concern is one of mine as well..People are so quick to sue nowadays and if you do anything by accident, BAM, “see ya in court, buddy”.. That being said I think as far as recording possible unsolved crimes (no witnesses, but film) it’s a great tool..Glad to see I’m not the only one lingering abit too long on some of our finer global cities.. Sao Paulo, Brazil, well I need only say that.. some interesting people
What a weird, creepy, and interesting tool. But I tend to feel more like Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State on the subject (okay not that bad).
You are so right.. it is creepy in an interesting, can’t stop looking way.. I’m waiting for a cubicle cam in my office.. will be alot of firings..lol
There’s a line, it’s getting very close to being crossed and we will not have a say in the cross over.
I agree.. I think the line gets thinner each time new technology is mainstreamed.. I wonder what will be next?
I’m feeling like maybe…conspicuously placing a mannequin outside my door, “parking” a car on blocks in front of my apartment while I hide my car around the block, and…putting a big sign on top of the roof stating “No one lives here!” Oy vey!
Haha.. no doubt if you do that someone would swear they saw some strange “lady” do something illegal..
Oh, I forgot…and brush my teeth so they are pretty on camera.
too funny you are.. yes, Ultra-Brite smiles for everyone!!
I will be in my bunker with my tinfoil hat. I see the future of Minority Report. The dawn of a new era: Big Brother Voyeurism.
Yup.. while it may seem innocent enough now, I’m not really digging it in the long run.. can I borrow your hat?
When they’re in a public place, and people know that they’re there, I don’t feel that they are an invasion of privacy. However, I certainly wouldn’t want one focused on me that I didn’t know about.
It would be my luck that the cameras would catch me at my absolute worst dressed days..:-)..
I love it on the internet, looking at someone walking down the street on another continent, and I do not mind being seen by someone looking at my location. And- on cameras, I understand that there is research into computer recognition of “suspicious behaviour”. With all the UK cameras, we are the most spied on country in the World, and have the apparatus for a police state. The government wants the power to read all our emails, which also could be searched for “suspicious words”. Um.
I apologize for the late response to your great comment.
I’m with you, don’t mind the “on street” cameras because if one is in public, well it’s out there for the world to see..But read emails, nope that is a true invasion of one’s privacy..We lose abit of ourselves each time the government puts another rope around our leg..
I don’t really know what my thoughts are on the subject. Honestly, my life is so boring, I mostly worry that when I walk by the camera I will be the chubby lady trying to get her underwear out of her butt.
But the technology is moving so fast, and it’s not just street cams and phones. We are building drones to fly over head to watch and listen.
I purposefully send my silly little life and thoughts out into the internet abyss. But I would like to think some of my thoughts can be me my own.
We have those street cameras here on many busy streets. I’m like you, what if they film me in a bad moment..lol. Technology has moved so fast just in the past 20 years. I remember when a CB radio was some new fangled gadget.. we have certainly come a long way!