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Note from The Tennessee Conservative: Editorial statements in this column are the sole opinion of the author; they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff of this publication.
Submitted by Thomas Antkow –
According to a recent search result, public surveillance methods evolved from “early law enforcement monitoring for security and policing and grew from there”. Wiretapping and telegraph monitoring began in the 19th Century” and predated the use of cameras. California passed the “first statute banning wiretapping and eavesdropping in 1862”.
The first surveillance cameras “appeared in the 30’s and 40’s primarily for military and industrial use”. Video cameras came into use for military surveillance around 1939. Once the FBI pounced upon the methods of systematic monitoring of criminals via wiretapping and mail searches the suspicions regarding information usage laid the groundwork about how we feel about the methods today. In the 1960’ and 1970’s public cameras began appearing in cities to surveil crime and civil unrest. Now most government agencies, ala the FBI, CIA, and NSA, use the methods freely and often surreptitiously.
Fast forward to today. Traffic cams (including red light and speed), body cams, school cams, box store cams, bank cams, ATM machine cams, personal home security cams, drone cams, satellite cams, airport cams, casino cams, nanny cams, pinhole cams, flock cams and finally cell phone cams. To name just a few.
As far as I am aware, most don’t require a search warrant. They function mostly in public places. They reveal crimes in progress. They search for missing children, kidnap victims, stolen vehicles, lost elderly folks, monitor weather, supervise events for security, oversee traffic crashes and assist in rerouting vehicle flow to assist emergency response. Most cameras such as police body cams, school cameras and even dash cams have been requested and even demanded to be utilized by the public. What do they all have in common? They are our eyes and ears. The ultimate Sentinel. The Good Lord is forever vigilant. Most humans are not. Now we are getting close. The question is. What is their real purpose.
One thing that comes to mind regarding cell phone cameras and cameras used in the media and by most amateur paparazzi. Personal privacy is doomed. Users of cell phone cameras rarely, if ever, care about individual rights or privacy. Just point them where they choose and post the results on social media at the speed of light. No search warrants here. Just jackpot and greed time!
Fourth Amendment? What’s that? First Amendment? Misquoted every time.
Let’s be factual here. Avoid being egocentric, impractical or self-serving for the moment. Whether it’s observation and reporting by the human eye or the lens of a camera the only difference between the newly controversial “Flock Cameras” and most traditional ones are power source, and expansive AI database.
Other than that, they are more accurate and the photo resolution is outstanding. They take fewer people to operate them, and they can sort data and information at light speed. They also might be ugly, but they are here to stay. Most motor vehicle operators adamantly oppose any means to observe, critique or penalize their BTW skills or behavior. Tough luck gang. Try being in my shoes. As a father who suffered the loss of my only child at the hands of a redlight runner, I think I can speak from experience. My opinion regarding any ineptitude or dangerous driver behavior is deeply seated in my memory.
In conclusion. Can the information gathered be misused or hacked. Welcome to the world of the 21st Century and beyond. The United States Constitution and rights have been misquoted, misinterpreted and bastardized for years. Unfortunately, even our courts have moved far and away from the intent of our founding Fathers.
About the Author: THOMAS ANTKOW is currently a freelance writer and produced and hosted his own daily radio show on KCSF AM 1300 and co-hosted talk shows for KVOR AM 740 for Cumulus Broadcasting in Colorado Springs. He can be reached at tariodio863@gmail.com
One Response
Yup, sadly, many welcome lucifer’s accursed Big Brother’s spy cameras.