Too Much Video Surveillance?

(CBS)  In the series, "Someone is Watching You," "Early Show" consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen took a look into the growing number of surveillance cameras that are popping up and capturing people's daily activities.

Is all this technology costing us our privacy?

Koeppen remarked that cameras today are advanced; they can tilt, zoom and pan. They can also capture your license plate from a mile away, and can help catch criminals. And while proponents say cameras make us safer, others say cameras are eroding our privacy at an alarming rate, Koeppen said.

Dangers of Sharing Music Files

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, an affliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, told Koeppen, "Everybody is caught on camera dozens and dozens of times a day. I don't think you could walk two blocks in the city without being captured on video camera."

So Koeppen and her team decided to test that out by walking six blocks with Lieberman from Koeppen's office on West 57th Street in New York City to the famous Carnegie Deli six blocks away.

Koeppen and Lieberman counted 80 cameras in six blocks -- and those were the ones they could see. And inside the deli when they arrived, Koeppen and Lieberman spotted six more.

Lieberman said, "They've got us from every angle some from the left some from the right, they're capturing every move we make."

Koeppen reported the Department of Homeland Security has given cities and towns more than $1 billion to install cameras in public places -- and that's in addition to private cameras in stores and other businesses. Koeppen said there are lots of cameras, but not a lot of regulation.

Write Susan on Twitter
E-mail Susan Koeppen
Are Your Medical Records Watched?
Dangers of Sharing Music Files

Lieberman said, "Cameras aren't all bad, but if there are no safeguards in place, that's a real worry."

In New York City, cameras captured a man embracing a woman on a private terrace. The video was captured by police from a helicopter during protests at the Republican National Convention. The couple had no idea they were being videotaped.

The man in the video spoke to CBS News, but asked us not to mention his name or show his face.

"I felt violated," he said. "...That was really my first reaction."

He continued, "Not only did they capture me, but they kept coming back to us repeatedly as if it were a game for them."

He filed a complaint -- but the New York District Attorney's Office decided not to initiate a criminal investigation.

Lieberman said, "What kind of society have we come to when the police are spending tax payer money to spy on romance?"

Lieberman would like to see a national registry of surveillance cameras -- and better checks and balances for how and when they're used.

"When you can't walk six blocks without being caught by 80 cameras along the way," Lieberman said, "there's just too many."

Koeppen added on "The Early Show" that experts say say there are so many cameras in America -- it's impossible to say just how many exist.

[leblanc9844]

Despite being a supporter of privacy, governments are determined to cut budgets for civic services such as police patrols and opt for the surveillance cameras. These do have their advantages, and I believe the results outweigh the possibility of a camera catching me in my birthday suit at home or some other compromising position. Crime does pay, and the public needs help. I shudder to think about the maintenance of infrastructure regarding the cameras ( non US manufacture, the further demise of the trade deficit) in a few years as budgets get even tighter.

[dragon8me]

Carry a can of spray paint and...

[poonamofcary]

Western Society with camera'a all over is great Idea! Know that they are at public places,not your home. Public places, you expect privacy?? why? If you have something to hide, do not show or do it at public places,simple as that.

[dragon8me]

That's not the point. Why is the gov spending money to watch you? George Orwell was a prophit, unfortunately we are living his nightmare.

[ww2chas]

You may be concerned about all of the camera's now but if these prevent a crime being committed on you, I'll bet you'll be real glad the cameras are there. Or if there is a crime and the person is caught because he/she was caught on tape - AMEN.
You got nothing to hide, the camera's shouldn't bother you!

[common_sense_guy]

my question to the guy that was 'captured' sucking face with his gf/wife: "Were you in a public place"? even if you were on YOUR terrace hanging outside an apartment, if it is not confined by 4 walls, roof, etc - if it is 'out of doors', then you are in public and hence - you have no gripe as there should be no expectation of privacy in the public domain. courts have upheld this. so good luck to you filing a complaint. was it right to cut back to you? no. ethical? ahhh, maybe not. legal? absolutely. general rule is: if you want something to remain private, do it in private, not outside or anywhere close to outside. try walking down a street in london. they have cameras everywhere and face recognition software to scout for the bad guys. it is a fact of the times....

[skepticalJM]

This is the result of a lack of trust in society. A society without trust is a society that is coming apart.

Why?

You can't have losers and winners living together and call the result a society.