Big Brother Is Watching ... And Listening ... And Talking

Citing the popularity and success of closed-circuit television cameras that have been installed in many public places for crime-fighting purposes, politicians in the UK are considering attaching microphones and even loudspeakers to these cameras.

1 minute read

May 1, 2007, 11:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"But Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said Home Office research had indicated there were 'still doubts as to the efficacy' of CCTV, both in terms of preventing and detecting crime."

"Both argued people should know where CCTV cameras were - possibly by way of a website map - and expressed alarm about the potential for tiny cameras to be 'buried' in lampposts."

"But the committee pointed out that CCTV was very popular with the public, which often called for its installation."

"There are up to 4.2m CCTV cameras in Britain - about one for every 14 people - and the UK also holds 3.6 million DNA samples, which is the world's biggest database."

FULL STORY: Warning over 'talking CCTV' plans

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in BBC

Government / Politics Social / Demographics United Kingdom

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.