Ethical Considerations in Criminal Surveillance

Paper Summary:

This paper studies two technological advances -- video surveillance and shot detection microphones, both of which make police work easier, but which also raise ethical concerns. The author considers the effectiveness, usefulness and ethical considerations in using each of these two crime prevention methods. The paper cites Supreme Court decisions, focusing on fourth amendment issues to privacy.

From the Paper:

"The question is how free such a society can really be. If privacy is annihilated, many other rights go with it. The situation could escalate to a "big brother" sort of society, when perfectly honest citizens are never certain about how their actions are observed and interpreted. That is why it is essential to exercise rigorous control over modern electronic surveillance methods. Of course, while a fundamental right, privacy is not an absolute right. There are cases where it is legitimate and necessary to sacrifice some privacy in order to ensure security. This is the case in places where security is a high risk, such as shops and airports. However, rigorous research needs to be done to determine the measures that should be taken to ensure safety, and the degree to which privacy should be sacrificed. Video surveillance is of course standard practice in the above-mentioned high-risk situations. However, in a public place such as a street or a park alternative measures could be considered."

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