Street Lights Double As Surveillance

[jakeXT]

...

They can play music, monitor conversations, direct traffic, send emergency signals, and take pictures.

"It makes me feel kinda.. that's creepy," said Shamel Ridley, an Uptown Charlotte Resident

The designer says the lights aren't some type of spook technology. But, they can detect movement and determine whether it's a person, car, or even an animal. Late at night, if there's too much movement, the light will notify police.

...

"They could probably spot potential trouble before it starts. Especially with kids... they like to go in big groups and crowds. If the police can see that before anything happens, that's a good thing," said Edwards.


..
http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/local/Street-Lights-Double-As-Surveillance-133411623.html

[MADem]

1. What's the difference between a streetlight doing that, or a person

sitting in a cop car or outbuilding doing the same thing?

It's automation. The streetlight is cheaper than a cop.

[GliderGuider]

6. The difference is cost, and ubiquity.

"Citizen, our sensors have reported that you are on a street you don't usually frequent. Would you please explain your business here? Oh, and while we're at it, zu papieren, bitte."

[MADem]

9. Wow, that's a bit of a leap, if you ask me.

Frankly, if I lived in a neighborhood that was troubled by crime, I think that a little extra oversight might not be a bad thing, and might help target assets effectively.

Would you prefer the sort of police state that puts a bored asshole in riot gear on every corner?

Give me the damn street light any day.

[GliderGuider]

11. I'd rather not have either, thanks. I'd rather live in a peaceful neighborhood.

The problem is that surveillance societies tend not to respect social niceties like the privacy of ordinary people.

Ben Franklin said it best: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Beyond whether they deserve them or not, I believe that those who give up liberty for security soon discover they have neither.

[MADem]

13. Who the hell wouldn't "rather live in a peaceful neighborhood?"

Not everyone is as lucky or rich as you. Not everyone can "choose" where they can afford to live.

Some people--very nice people, too--live in shitholes and endure drive-bys, robberies, burglaries, etc. And I'm betting they'd LOVE this kind of thing, because they can't count on the patrol car coming by regularly. Anything that prevents the grandchild from being shot in her crib is a "good thing," as Martha Stewart might say.

Ben Franklin was the guy who organized militias and fire departments--he was a champion of all sorts of public service initiatives, from business organizations, to libraries, post offices, all sorts of public efforts, for the benefit of citizens and communities. When he made that remark you misquoted, he wasn't talking about the protection of citizens from crime, which is the plain goal of this device so don't dare fiddle with his words like that. It's tremendously disingenuous of you.

[GliderGuider]

20. Ever notice how often these days its the cops who shoot the grandchild in the crib?

"Oops, we made a mistake, but it's not our fault."

Sorry, I will never opt for a 24-7 surveillance state.

[MADem]

26. Really? Not where I'm from. Most of the drive-bys are criminals, not cops.

If you had issue with a surveillance state, you might have piped up well before this. It's too late in urban areas--it is a fait accompli.

If you don't want to be surveilled, move to the country. The cities have cameras, public and private, on every block, and have for decades now. You can't walk twenty feet without having your picture taken, and that's been the case for way longer than some here have been alive.

[LanternWaste]

15. Specifically which essential liberty is being given up?

Specifically which essential liberty is being given up in this particular case?

[GliderGuider]

19. The liberty to go about a law-abiding life un-surveilled

[Desertrose]

2. Seriously, do cops NEED to see everything we do??

Big Brother is alive & thriving!!!

[kestrel91316]

5. No, actually, they DON'T.

[Dawson Leery]

3. And OnStar has a passive listening capacity.

Remember to unplug the microphone if you have this.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Telephones can be used as passive monitors.

A friend who used to work for the phone company, many years ago, had kill switches on his land lines. Probably still does.

[Dawson Leery]

7. If I am in my car or place of residence, I have the right to privacy.

Be careful what you say over the phone, yes. Still, there MUST be some places where people can speak in private. I DO not consider GM cars when buying.

[GliderGuider]

8. you can also unplug or power down. That works for VOIP and wireless too.

No active mic = no listen-in.

[Tesha]

23. Actually, they can't.

The only part of a traditional wired Ma-Bell-supplied
phone that was connected when the phone was "on hook"
was the ringer.

Everything else was disconnected by the hook-switch.
Otherwise, the ringing current would have damaged the
rest of the phone.

Tesha

[Warpy]

10. Sometimes that can be a good thing

as in the Shot Spotter program in Nassau County, NY. That particular one saw a 32% drop in gun related violence, probably because it got so many gunnies of the street sooner rather than later.

http://www.shotspotter.com/news-and-events/news/nassau-county-ny-gun-crime-drops-32-shotspotter-debut-video

[MADem]

14. But....but....

You're interfering with the FREEDOM of the drive-by shooter to fire his weapon as he sees fit!

You're infringing on his rights to shoot that baby in the crib through the window! Oh, the horror!

:sarcasm:

If that thing works as advertised (and apparently it does), I'm all for it.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. One targets a very specific illegal activity. The other one targets everyone. Hope that helps.

[MADem]

25. The other doesn't "target" anyone. It simply notes that there's a crowd in a location.

The police could get the same information if Mrs. Kravitz called 911.

[Warpy]

24. It's really ingenious

Units on light poles do echo location of the shooter, simultaneously switching on a camera at the scene which records what's going down and a few seconds later notifies the cops about where, how many, and what direction they're moving.

Don't shoot a gun outdoors in the city and you'll be peachy fine.

[chrisa]

12. Solution to the debt problem - let companies play advertisements through them

Just kidding

[lunatica]

16. Surveillance in public places is fine with me

I think it's inevitable and will probably cut down on crime quite a bit. If a liquor store in a bad neighborhood is lit brightly from the street and a surveillance camera is prominently displayed guess what isn't going to be happening at that store. The more obvious the cameras are displayed in places like that the less robberies there will be.

[jakeXT]

17. The video in the link says that you won't be able to tell the difference between a normal light

and a surveillance camera

[MadHound]

18. Police state USA,

And Orwell spins in his grave.

Glad I live in a rural area that will never be able to afford to put this invasive gadget into use.

[backtoblue]

22. Big Brother is watching...

Not a fan of public surveillance