Article DetailsPros and Cons of Concealed Video Surveillance in Private Spaces |
| Date Added: June 01, 2008 09:27:13 PM |
| Author: Captain - Administrator |
| Category: |
| By Ryan Karpilo RKDefense.com We live in interesting times, which is at least partly due to the fact that technology has extensively penetrated our modern existence. There was a time when hidden video surveillance used to be only limited to public spaces, for obvious reasons of security. Private video surveillance was the province of law keepers, used to monitor gangsters, criminals and terrorists. But today, concealed video surveillance in private spaces is no longer unusual. This kind of surveillance is usually carried out through a video camera that looks like a normal household object, like a clock or a vase. The video camera is cleverly concealed to give maximum vision without the risk of the subject being monitored detecting it. Concealed video surveillance has made it possible for busy parents to keep an eye on their children when left alone at home. It is also used to monitor nannies, or caregivers to the unwell or elderly so as to ensure that there is no abuse. Pet monitoring using this technology can also be useful, so that appropriate measures can be taken in case of destructive behavior. Since the surveillance is covert, the subjects monitored can be seen in their natural behavior. Being unaware of being watched, they do not feel the need to conceal their intentions and reveal their true selves easily. Most hidden video cameras disguised as normal objects are extremely easy to install inside the home. Video cameras concealed or placed in disguise in the exterior of the house make it difficult for intruders to know if or not they are being watched. Such surveillance increases the sense of security for the homeowner, because an alarm can be raised before any harm takes place. Moreover, a vulnerable person home alone can identify a person at the door clearly before allowing him or her inside. This kind of surveillance can also be used at a theft deterrent if it is installed outside office premises. But there are those that raise privacy concerns, saying that covert video surveillance strikes at the root of privacy rights. A person could easily use them on his or her spouse, or any other member of the family. An employer could mount such surveillance on unsuspecting employees, thus infringing on their basic rights. Some of the currently available video surveillance equipment is also connected live on the internet. This means one can see what is happening in one's home behind one's back by simply logging on to a website. This monitoring could turn into an obsession and affect one's professional life. Watching recorded tapes of activities could be a good option in this case, if the perceived risk of missing live coverage is minimal. |
