The Federal Privacy Commissioner has initiated some research into public surveillance. From the Privacy commissioner’s blog:
We’ve decided to commission research into how developments in public surveillance techniques and technology are affecting Canadians, individually and as a society. First off, Queen’s University will be examining the proliferation of surveillance cameras across the country, and report on the trends in the use of public surveillance – although it seems as if we are seeing more and more attempts to expand surveillance networks. As well, the University of Alberta will be taking a detailed look at whether privacy issues are being properly considered in the run-up to the 2010 Olympics.
I look forward to the results of that research. I subscribe to the view that for the most part public CCTV is security theatre that does not have any significant effect on actual security.
Read the Comissioner’s post for more detail and insight into the issue.
