There are many reasons why closed circuit TV (CCTV) cameras shouldn’t be installed in public places and a lot more reasons why they should be. The most common denominator is security.
We have heard or read stories about robberies, murders, rapes and all sorts of violent, criminal and scandalous behavior caught on video tape by these cameras installed high on the ceiling, a pole or other lofty structure.
Recent celebrity scandals and robberies of commercial establishments like LBC show the necessity and wisdom of setting up these surveillance tools.
They help the police and other law enforcement agencies identify perpetrators, which can hasten their arrest. The cameras can also prove very intrusive and downright creepy.
There have been reports of cameras being installed in public places for still unexplained reasons.
The Cebu City Council, for one, questioned whether these are being used by robbers themselves to monitor the movements of police units. This way they can execute their robberies and stay one stepsahead of their pursuers.
It’s not a far-fetched observation.
The Central Bank already warned depositors not to use ATM machines that don’t have security guard lest their ATM cards be detected and their bank accounts depleted through a scheme called “phishing”, where discreetly placed cameras are perched atop the machines to detect which numbers are punched in by depositors.
The ATM terminal now has plastic covers to avoid detection but not all ATM machines have this feature.
While the Cebu City Council deliberates on a proposed ordinance requiring business establishments to set up security cameras, it should also include provisions that restrict the use of these CCTVs for security purposes only.
People shouldn’t be allowed to purchase these cameras without a valid reason.
These may be nowhere near as deadly as firearms but the use of CCTVs should be regulated by the government if only to ensure that they don’t infringe on the every person’s basic freedom of privacy.
It’s bad enough that people feel they are being watched by “Big Brother” even if they are assured that it is for their own protection.
In preserving the safety and security of citizens, both the local and national governments should still protect the individual’s right to personal space and privacy.