Timothy Tan (35) 1st Entry

What has the world become? Now more people are relying on CCTVs to be their eyes and ears for watching over their neighbours, employees and maids. Before technology became so advanced, people relied on friends and neighbours to help keep watch over their homes when they were away at work or on long holidays.  In small kampongs, everyone knew each other and people never needed to close or lock their front doors but now a large number of people live in HDB apartments and keep mostly to themselves.   Many do not even know who lives on the same floor as them and therefore the trust between people and neighbours has also disappeared with time as more people living in HDB apartments go about their own lives keeping to their own business.  In fact if anything should happen most HDB dwellers would shut their windows and lock their doors instead of coming forward to help.

 

Advantages:

With the introduction of CCTV, people know that they are constantly under the watchful surveillance of the authorities, giving them the sense of feeling safe and secure. The instalment of CCTVs gives serenity to most people, as they do not always have to be on their guard for any suspicious or illegal activities. The criminals on the other hand will have a tough task of trying to pull off a successful crime, whilst it would be an effortless job for the police to convict and arrest the outlaws with evidence from CCTV footage.  As outlaws are on the losing end here, they would possibly think twice before deciding on committing any crimes or breaking any laws. Hence, there will be without a doubt there would be a dramatic drop in the crime rates around cities where CCTVs are used to monitor their streets and public places.  There could be valuable evidence of a crime committed captured by the CCTVs, which can be used to establish facts in a legal investigation. It will also benefit a country’s economy, as foreigners are likely to flock to safer destinations to spend their holidays rather than an under developed country, where even its own government is not capable of controlling their public.

 

Disadvantages:

As more CCTVs are installed at every street corner and busy public places like at bus stations and underground train stations, every movement of the public is being scrutinised constantly under the watchful eye of the authorities day and night and tapes of all recordings can be recalled for reviewing at any time if a crime has been committed. Then again, despite the huge success of CCTVs in assisting to arrest outlaws, there is also the adverse effects of the instalment of CCTVs.  Firstly, due to “Big Brother” watching over the cities, the crime rates will be kept low and the public will feel safer, time will tell if people will start to be over reliant on these CCTVs.  Due to these circumstances, the police may decrease the intensity of their patrolling as they feel that the CCTVs are already a deterrent to criminals. People will soon begin to think that due to the low crime rates, there would be no need to be extra careful whenever they are out in public.  Low crime does not mean no crime so the public should always be on the lookout for suspicious looking characters and/or unusually activity. The public cannot be over dependent on CCTVS as machines can malfunctions during electrical failures, hence there may be times when a footage captured on the CCTV may not report what actually took place. Machines too are not free from errors.

Another adverse effect of CCTVS is that it is an intrusion and breach of privacy because it is like “spying” on an individual at all times and as there is no privacy at all.  Can you imagine what your life would be like being filmed 24hours a day, the film captured can then be replayed to look for evidence of a crime being committed.

 

My opinion on CCTVs being installed in Singapore:

When an economy is bad, there will be more people without work, some desperate people may resort to crime to make ends meet. Therefore I feel its is a good idea to increase the number of CCTVs surveillance during the economic downturn to deter people from breaking the law and prevent illegal activities like house or store break-ins, shoplifting, drunken and rowdy behaviour, gang fights after dark and other illegal activities.  Even a simple act like speeding can be captured on CCTVs installed on the roads and can be presented as evidence when an accident occurs.

My opinion on CCTVs about privacy:

With more CCTVs installed, I would be undoubtedly be feeling anxiety and discomfort as there would be “a million pairs of eyes”, peering down my neck observing my every move.  My privacy will no doubt be intruded upon as whatever I do will be recorded and in a way it seems like I am a prisoner to the CCTVs.  While I know that I am under the surveillance of a CCTV, I would naturally be more cautious of my actions. I am sure it is the same for other people too and I feel that there is some sort restriction to our freedom even if it was something done for fun, it might be misinterpreted when seen on film.  Therefore as an individual, I feel that I will be restricted in my behaviour.