RSSNYPD to Install 500 Wireless Cameras
By Ed Oswald | Published April 17, 2006, 1:48 PM
The New York Police Department has begun installing wireless cameras across New York City in a bid to curb violence in the city and also fight terrorism. By the project's completion, nearly 500 cameras will be installed at a cost of nearly $9 million.
The initiative is modeled after a similar one in London that is used to watch the city's financial district. New York City hopes to install hundreds more, however it is awaiting on $81.5 million worth of requested funds to be provided through grants from the federal government.
While the NYPD sees the money as a wise investment, privacy advocates have criticized the move. They say there is no guarantee that the cameras wouldn't be used for racial profiling or voyeurism, as not enough studies have been done on the plan -- a charge the NYPD denies.
The department said it had hired lawyers to advise about the project, and assured cameras would only be installed in public areas. Plus, the benefit of having an extra pair of eyes in problem areas could help everyone in the end, the NYPD says, as lawbreakers would be more weary of committing crimes.
However, opponents cite a 2002 British survey that showed little evidence of a drop in crime following the installation of cameras in 14 cities. Still, those tapes were used in identifying suspects of a failed follow-up attack to last year's London transit bombings.
New York City's plan is nothing new; it already has 1,000 cameras is the city, and some 3,100 monitoring housing projects. Chicago has a 2,000-camera system, with Philadelphia also deploying wireless cameras in troubled areas.
If the UK have not been reporting issues with the cameras they have installed there, why should we? I am for one in favor of the cameras, so as long as they are NOT pointed to dressing rooms, bathrooms, people's homes, etc.
Pointing it to central park or the citibank building, bridges, places like that would be a great idea
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|In about 50 years, when practicly free unlimited speed&usage wireless communication is prevalent, public workers (cops, servants, etc) will have to (BY LAW) video record every interaction with a private citizen for Quality Assurance, just like those minimum wage telemarketers or support guys of today.
At the same time, private individuals will be able to easily record any interaction occuring in public locations (including schools) and practically act as cops themselves (BTW private citizens can already today arrest anyone that only APPEARS to be committing a crime). People won't think you are "weird" or "paranoid" if you did that, as you wouldn't have to carry any additional equipment on your person than you would normally carry... some garment with multiple lenses all over the place that you would wear anyway so you could share "special moments" of your day in 3D-360degrees-by-360degrees with your family and friends. Basically a cameraphone a few evolutionary generations later.
At a very young age you will learn what is legal and what is illegal to record. Illegally recording would be difficult since the people around you will be able to "sniff" the air and recognize you are recording, so they watch what they say/do even in public.
Crime will be a thing of the past. I mean, any citizen will be able to push a "red panic button" and immediately everyone around him (within a block or so) starts feeding their eyes and ears to the police. Will be impossible to be a successful criminal.
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|We are used to watching crime reports on the evening news. So much crime that when we see a victim bleeding on the sidewalk, we dont realize the pain that the victim is going through, pain in every sense: psychological,physical,emotional,financial,not only for them, but also their loved ones. If these cameras can act as a deterrent to prevent one crime, to one person, I say: install the cameras please !!!!!! Lazaro Hidalgo, Plantation Florida
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|All rise and pay homage to George Orwell...
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|hoho, one thing about the camera thou.
sometimes there are camera thieves who try to steal them off the installation spot. heh :)
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|I guess as long as these are not installed in my backyard or my home then I'm ok with it. Anything that will curb crime gets thumbs up from me. I wish they'd do that in Philly, there are some real scary areas there police cameras might be a bit of a deterrent.
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"police cameras might be a bit of a deterrent"
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They've had much more experience with this in London, and have found cameras have little deterrent effect. Mainly useful for: a.) Identifying participants in crimes, and b.) Alerting police to public disturbances [i.e., street fights].
Traffic-enforcement cameras are completely different. They are effective in slowing down speeders.
But crime-cameras don't deter much crime.
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The Computer Rodent
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"Why is it republicans want to spy on people all the time?"
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There is no expectation of privacy in public places.
So, it ISN'T "spying".
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The Computer Rodent
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|I am an industry insider working mostly in public transportation. We provide cameras used in vehicles to record all manner of activity. Typically, drivers complain first and then the public over privacy intrusion etc.. Then, magically and within about one year, everyone agreees that the cameras are a good thing. Drivers are vindicated over harassment complaints and the public is more protected against random crime.
What is funnt to me is the presumption that someone is watching the live feed or recorded video. The reality is that probably 98% of the video recorded is NEVER seen by a human. Believe me, I've searched video from a bus for a specific incident and it isn't fun, you would rather wash your cat.
So, relax. And if something bad happens (such as London) sit and wait and maybe you can cheer the fact that the cameras helped us catch a bad guy. Believe me, everyone will think it's a good idea then!
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"Typically, drivers complain first and then the public over privacy intrusion etc.. Then, magically and within about one year, everyone agreees that the cameras are a good thing."
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Yeah, remember when the police started using helicopters.
Everybody thought the cops would "spy" on what they had in the backyard barbeque !
After about a year, people realized that what they were doing in their own backyards wasn't as fascinating to the police as they once supposed.
And everybody now views police helicopters as a good thing.
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The Computer Rodent
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|Why is it republicans want to spy on people all the time? What's with that?
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|"The New York Police Department has begun installing wireless cameras across New York City in a bid to curb violence in the city and also fight terrorism. By the project's completion, nearly 500 cameras will be installed at a cost of nearly $9 million."
Republicans? NYPD are ANYTHING but Republicans, methinks...
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|Why is it that people have to constantly break the law? What's with that?
This isn't about republicans at all, it's about protecting Americans. It's well established that once you are no longer in your home you have no right to privacy (other than your personal space). There have been cameras on stop lights for years (where I live anyway), no one complains about that. What's the difference (there isn't one).
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|The only cameras I've seen on stop lights are the ones in Oregon that take still pictures of people who run red lights. I haven't heard of any place in the USA that already uses video recording cameras outdoors in public places.
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|They also use them to monitor traffic, they don't point away from the stop light they point at the intersection the light points at (at least ours do).
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|so they can win elections :P
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|Hey you can sit and eat donuts and catch crooks at the same time without leaving your chair!
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|There is no privacy concern in this type of project as long as it's installed on the public zones and streets.
In Taiwan, every street has cameras and have been successfully assisted in solving crimes. And there has never been any lawsuit regarding to privacy exposure.
I think this is a good start for New Yorkers as well as tourists.
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|The year is 2023... as you walk out of your house the Government owned HovBot comes out of hibernation and displays your RFID number on its LED screen. The Bot says "Goodmorning Mr: Smith, the time is now 7:53am, you have now entered public space. The HovBot, designed to hover behind you, just out of sight so as not to bother you, will reports back location, business transactions and continual video feed to a database. Another government project helping to ensure your safety! Thanks HovBot
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|Only 500? In a city the size of New York?
Wake me when it's 50,000. It'll be newsworthy by then.
PS - I laughed at the ubiquitous "fight terrorism". You lot really are trapped in blind panic, aren't you?
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|Be like "days of our lives", except with homeless people.
Maybe they'll do something about that problem once they're on camera.
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|another reason i would never live in the city
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|lol just like London..
Wow 2000 cameras in Chicago!
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