Posted on 02/08/2011 5:55:47 AM PST by Graybeard58
CHICAGO
A leading civil rights group wants Chicago to stop expanding its network of thousands of cameras covering the city because of privacy issues, First Amendment concerns and a lack of regulation, according to a report released Tuesday.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois called for a full review of the cameras which number at least 10,000 and are at locations from skyscrapers to utility poles saying city officials won't release basic information like the exact number, cost and any incidents of misuse.
Those concerns, along with city officials' plans for expansion, put Chicago a step closer to a Big Brother invasion of privacy, the ACLU alleged.
"Chicago's camera network invades the freedom to be anonymous in public places, a key aspect of the fundamental American right to be left alone," the report states. "Each of us then will wonder whether the government is watching and recording us when we walk into a psychiatrist's office, a reproductive health care center, a political meeting, a theater performance, or a book store."
The system, which started less than a decade ago, has been called the most extensive and integrated camera network of any U.S. city by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Chicago police have praised the cameras' use and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has even called for cameras to be installed on every city corner to help fight crime.
Chicago police and Daley have lauded the cameras and defended their use, saying they help authorities respond more quickly and have led to more than 4,000 arrests. Daley's office didn't respond to requests for comment about the report.
The network includes private cameras and those installed by city agencies, like the Chicago Transit Authority. While many of the cameras are visible like those with flashing blue lights
(Excerpt) Read more at pjstar.com ...
Chicago needs to include cameras in the bedrooms of the ACLU members.
The potential is only limited by the imagination of the police state.
Maybe the locals could post the GPS locations on something like EveryTrails or Googlemap. What a great scavenger hunt!
I wonder how much it is costing Chicago to pay people to watch the feeds from the cameras.
The ACLU is only worried about the civil rights of criminals who might get caught not the average American. They’re just incidental here
When you are on a public street, you are not entitled to exemption from being merely observed.
I am fed up with all the impediments groups like the ACLU place in the way of safety and law-enforcement. They have no consideration for the individual members of society who suffer as a result of their policies.
ACLU is a sicko organization with very bad origins (formerly an outright Communist front). They are a socially destructive group.
When you are on a public street, you are not entitled to exemption from being merely observed.
I am fed up with all the impediments groups like the ACLU place in the way of safety and law-enforcement. They have no consideration for the individual members of society who suffer as a result of their policies.
ACLU is a sicko organization with very bad origins (formerly an outright Communist front). They are a socially destructive group.
Applications Available at any of 10,000 City Streetcorner Locations=-
Watch for the Flashing Blue Light! [or no light at all]
Go For it!.
Not to worry, ACLU. Most of the cameras don’t even work...and no one is actually WATCHING on those that do. These are just tools to make it look as though Mayor Shortshanks gives a damn.
Isn’t Illinois one of those police states where you can be arrested for filming a cop?
Let me guess: too many of the protected minorities are being caught?
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