Isaac Poon (23) Blog Entry 1

Surveillance cameras have several benefits. An obvious benefit is that the police can catch criminals in the act, thus reducing crime rates. This will make the streets safer for ordinary people. A more important point is that the criminals, particularly young offenders or petty criminals will be deterred. They will not be tempted to carry out crimes, and thus society will be a lot safer. Cameras are also cost-effective and unobtrusive. Authorities do not need to spend large amounts of money on police.

However, security cameras are far from being a perfect solution. A surveillance camera and privacy can never go hand-in-hand. This is due to the fact that the use of hidden cameras is considered by many an intrusion into their privacy and private space. Many people feel that they should be free to travel or move around a shop, mall, street or country without being photographed or recorded. They feel that being watched constantly is like being in jail, and that the ordinary people are losing their freedom because of those devices. Doesn’t an individual have a right to privacy? Another point is that although the police claim that only criminals have something to fear from these cameras, many people do not trust governments with too much information. Corrupt authorities could use information in the wrong way or twist it to victimize some groups. Thirdly, cameras and computers can make mistakes.

In conclusion, although there are definite advantages to using surveillance cameras, we need to balance the need for security with respect for the individual’s privacy and freedom.