Panopticism and CCTV - Research Paper Example

 Panopticism and CCTV The growing concerns over the rising case of insecurity have necessitated the installation of street cameras to carry out uninterrupted surveillance of the streets. Through such technologies as face recognition, modern day Closed Circuit Television cameras ensure that the law enforcers can trace the movements of any criminals thus limiting criminal acts in cities and towns. Unlike the early days, cameras are used for protecting people from accident or crime, and not for controlling and watching people. However, as the cameras promise to enhance the security and safety of the streets, they threaten to bring fundamental societal changes and the penal power of the Panoptic surveillance. In his theory, Bentham explains that cameras in the prison act as an ever-present inmate who observes the conduct of the prisoners thus acting as a vital source of information. This way, the prisoners uphold values of discipline owing to the innate fear of the surveillance system. This paper is set to discuss the societal impact of cameras. The paper will discuss the following issues in paragraphs. 1. The first paragraph describes the history and development of CCTV cameras. 2. The second paragraph introduces and discusses the Panopticon and its principles, and how they relate to CCTV cameras. 3. The third paragraph discuses the contextualization of panopticism in shopping mall designs. 4. The fourth paragraph introduces the positive and negative impacts of cameras in the society. 5. The fifth paragraph discusses privacy issues of cameras. 6. The sixth paragraph discusses societal responsibility and freedom issues of cameras. 7. The seventh paragraph discusses the positive impact of cameras. 8. The last paragraph is a summary of the entire paper. History of CCTV cameras CCTV dates back to 1942 in Germany, where the military used remote cameras and black and white monitors to observe the V2 rocket launch. CCTV cameras were used in the 1940's by the US military to observe the testing of atomic weapons from a safe distance. Over the eons, CCTV cameras are common. During the 1970's and 80's, CCTV was used in banks to aid in security measure, and has been successful in assisting with apprehending criminals. CCTV cameras were also used in Britain to monitor accidents in traffic. US and Canada used CCTV during the 1990's to track traffic violators. They were also placed in parking lots with the aim to curtail vandalism. Today, CCTV cameras are common almost everywhere, including homes, hospitals, schools, and airports, among other public places. Since the 9/11 attack, there has been increased surveillance practices applied to counter terrorism. CCTV cameras are used to not only look for criminal activities, but also induce a degree of self restraint in individuals. Panopicism and CCTV in context Bethan developed an architectural design called the Panopticon, meant to impose order in criminals, workers, patients, or school children. The basic principles are total and constant surveillance. The design is developed whereby a light from a window illuminates inhabitants to be visible for the disciplinarians at a tower. The tower is designed for the disciplinarians to view all the inhabitants, while they are invisible themselves – the glass windows in the tower are fitted with blinds (Foucault 1995, 200). As such, Panopticon is effective because of uncertainty, where they watched cannot see their observers. The psychological objective is to make the surveillance subjects believe on conformation as the sole logical option. Bethan believed that the Panopticon principles could be important in spheres that require some level of regulation, and these principles are found in the modern CCTV cameras. As much as the present technology is developed than during Bethan's time, the principles and objectives remain the same. A CCTV camera has the power to see, and is located where it is visible to the surveillance subjects. In public places such as banking halls, and others, cameras are mostly visible, sometimes with signs that draw attention that people are under surveillance. In that light, individuals must decide on their behavior with the idea that any form of breaches can be seen. They, personally, internalize the rules and regulate their behavior. The systems are able to prevent people from crime because of the constant surveillance threat and preoccupation with being caught on camera. The design of modern shopping malls can be contextualized as panopticism. Shopping malls are large open spaces with much lighting, designed to promote visibility and safety. Normally, there are no small walkways. Using a gallery design to construct the floors ensures that people can view anyone below without necessarily having to change floors. A prime example of the panoptic eye is where exposed elevators are encased in glass. This ensures that incidents in elevators do not go undetected because of being invisible. These can be captured through CCTV cameras or through consumer panopticism. Consumer panopticism is a concept where shoppers survey and police one another. This ensures that security is maintained not only by the cameras, but also human beings such as the shoppers and security staff. While most shoppers barely notice this concept, the reaction to it has become internalized as integral part of the human society. Societal impact of camera surveillance Estimates show that in an eventful day in Britain, more than 300 cameras may capture an individual on an eventful day (Wright et al 2010, 343). The trend will probably arise because of various factors. Experts dismiss the assertions that CCTV cameras are not successful in curtailing crime. Installing CCTVs in a particular area also means that crime will shift to the surrounding areas that lack surveillance, thereby raising the need for CCTV systems in the area(s) as well. Additionally, arguments suggest that the presence of a surveillance system attracts businesses to cities. Moreover, surveillance systems are useful in during serious crimes such as murder, in helping to gather evidence and assisting the law enforcers when allocating resources prior to responding towards a crime scene. The present trajectory of surveillance is towards omnipresence, for watching spaces and capturing information within those spaces. Dedicated surveillance of people in the street raises concerns about privacy, which is a vital basic human right. Cameras, which carry the facial recognition technology, jeopardize privacy, as it develops to prevent security issues from morphing into greater threats within the urban fabric. Privacy is essential for individuals and groups to develop. It is only privately that people can become “individuals”. Within the public context, people selectively create specific things that describe who they are based on their political or religious views, education, income, work history, and others. People adjust their identity according to how they believe best, with more development on those identities effected in more private settings. As surveillance grows, the private space subsequently shrinks. CCTVs share the challenges that arise from their secret implementation and chances of data error. Most urbanities remain unaware they are observed through cameras, and even when they are aware, they cannot access the information, and thus not able to correct erroneous data. Among the mistakes of the system is pairing facial images with the wrong identities. Problems also arise during information networking where discrete information that may harm an individual's privacy is passed. This becomes even more delicate and complex when private and public institutions share such information. Ethical issues still revolve around the purchase of information from private entities. The effect of surveillance also stretches beyond privacy. It erodes the positive impacts of routine urban social interaction. It shrinks the urban perception of accountability following that especially in the 21st century, electronics have replaced the informal social control. People have ignored the responsibility of having their eyes on the streets because the of the cameras. What is more, the idea of being under surveillance makes people uncomfortable, especially when there is virtually nothing serious going on. Street cameras managed under effective databases and carrying out facial recognition in cities create such an effect on the citizens thus limiting the freedoms of the people. CCTVs influence the pervasive and inescapable feeling of being without freedom. In his theory, Bentham uses the context of a prison. Prisoners do not have any of such basic rights as the right to privacy (Foucault 1995, 87). This enhances the effectiveness in the functionality of the system. Free citizens on the other hand have freedoms, rights and privileges. Installing the CCTV cameras on the streets and residential areas may improve the security and safety of the streets, though it limits the freedoms of the citizens possibly creating the prison effect as discussed by Bentham in his theory. Meanwhile, beyond controlling and watching people, CCTV cameras are imperative in protecting people from crime and accidents as well. Their very presence makes potential criminals to evaluate their motives of carrying out a crime. In fact, when they intend to carry out a criminal activity within an area under surveillance, they need to put much effort in hacking the surveillance systems. The cameras have also been an integral part of evidence in criminal cases. Judges and jurors can use surveillance footage from security cameras to establish whether an individual should stand trial. In the event, law enforcers have also solved crimes using the footage from the cameras. For instance, acquiring pictures of suspects can a big difference in terms of arresting people and as well as getting potentially dangerous people off the streets. CCTV cameras also encourage good behavior. Considering that the cameras use the Panopticon principle, whose psychological objective is to make people believe that the only logical alternative is to conform, good behavior is encouraged. As such, the cameras are able to instill discipline among the subjects under surveillance. More so, they are instrumental in monitoring high-risk areas, thereby assisting communities to keep tabs with activities within it. For instance, the cameras can be placed in factories and other areas where there are possibilities of fire breakouts. Having a camera in place lower the potential risk of damage with emergency measures in place. In light of banks and shopping areas, CCTV cameras give clients a sense of security and safety. Alongside the concept of customer panopticism, clients are able to feel secure, consequently enhancing their confidence. Conclusion Since their first use in the military, CCTV cameras are widely used, especially in public settings. The cameras use the principles of the Panopticon to establish a firm surveillance system. The cameras have the power to see, recognize faces, as well as instill “fear” against potentially bad behavior. They also have issues regarding privacy, and both personal and social development. Unlike the early days when cameras were used to control and watch people, they are now used to protect people from accident and/or crime. Works cited Foucault, Michel 1995. Discipline and Punishment. New York: Vintage Books. Wright, David et al 2010. ‘Sorting out smart surveillance,’Computer Law and Security Review, 26, 343-354. Read More