Transcript Observing bodies. Camera surveillance and the significance of the

Seminar Synopsis
Ryan Schlimmer
October 6, 2005
Observing bodies. Camera
surveillance and the significance
of the body
Lynsey Dubbeld
Ethics and Information Technology
Volume 5, Issue 3
Pages 151 - 162
September 2003
General Outline
Thesis
 Conducted studies
 Asymmetrical relationship
 Ethical problems
 Effects on the innocent
 Summary
 Conclusion

Thesis
Ethical and social issues arise from
the use of Closed-Circuit Televisions
in surveillance
Studies

Past studies
Examine the effectiveness in public and
privacy protections
 Fail at making sure ethical issues do
not arise while during effectiveness


This paper

Focuses on the roles the body plays
Changes in Surveillance
From direct observation into virtual
through new technologies
 Research on effectiveness vs.
privacy in public
 Information and Communication
Technologies and ethical issues

The Paradox
Increased by new technologies
 Records our bodies, actions, and
behavior
 Turned into virtual representations
 The body is the focus of attention
while also being lost through virtual
representations

Ethical Examples

Categorization and classification

Physical characteristics

Behavioral changes
Conducted Studies


Disproportionate targeting
Norris and Armstrong


British town centre CCTV schemes
Categorized based on the standards of the
operators
• Normative categories
• Moral convictions


Operation based on assessment,
categorization, and evaluation of the body
Flagged by certain actions or bodily
characteristics
Conducted Studies Cont.
Categories: youth, known and potential
shoplifters, and homeless
 Example: close monitoring of young
black men for long periods of time
 Ways to approach cameras to get
different amounts of attention
 Attention with provoking behavior

• Can appear as a passive subject

Example: resistance of observation
Asymmetrical Relationship

Relationship between the watchers
and the watched

Electronic monitoring is not neutral
Embodiment
 Visibility
 Knowledge

Embodiment
Operators are beyond scrutiny due
to physical separation
 Operators are physically involved



Examples: camera monitoring,
deployment, profile setup
Observed people only play a
disembodied role
Visibility
The observed have little means to
find out who is watching them
 Operators are under different
scrutiny compared to the observed
population
 Operators are not exposed and can
not be watched back

Knowledge
People may not know if they are
even being watched
 Operators have technologies at their
disposal
 Organizations posses more
information, instruments, and
techniques for processing

Effects on People

Positive



Feeling of protection
Censoring of actions and illegal behavior
Negative




Intrusion of life
Feelings related to self-image, selfdetermination, self-respect, freedom, etc.
Shapes individuals not doing wrong
Brief and concise behavior
Risk of Democratic Rights

Racial discrimination


Presumption of innocence


Studies found that ethnicity was one of the
major criteria groups used
Scrutinized and judged based on bodily
appearance
Unreasonable search

A “fishing expedition,” intruding upon peoples
lives to catch the few minor offenders
Privacy and Surveillance

Stanley I. Benn


Jeff Johnson


Argued that people deserve consideration
in their life plans and choices
“immunity from the judgment of others.”
CCTV surveillance

Categorization of people and therefore an
intrusion of privacy
Effects
Ethnicity and other discriminatory
factors used to categorize people
 Flagged without the ability to defend
 Destruction of anonymities in public
 Haggerty and Ericson



“The disappearance of disappearance.”
Example: Tampa, Florida football
game
Privacy Protection
Different ways to protect the privacy
of the observed

Protect personal information

Be left alone
Summary

Positive and negative effects

The person is lost
Categorizing of bodily characteristics
 Discrimination based on appearance
 Observed by elements of the operator


Intrusion upon lives
Possible Solution
Explicitly define what privacy is in
relation to Close-Circuit television
surveillance
Questions?