Cops with Head Mounted Cameras
It’s not quite RoboCop but in the UK ‘Super wardens’ go on patrol
From the article
Their main role is to issue parking tickets but under legislation brought in last year they will also have powers to give on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour.
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“The cameras will give a much better standard of evidence in case of disputes or assaults on the attendants.
“We are more than happy to work with the police and pass on any evidence we gather. It can only help them to have people out on the streets with a camera all the time.
“Our attendants do a very good job but they are not police officers and they have very specific powers. It makes the job more interesting.”
I wonder how much of a problem this is for parking wardens, or whether it’s a way of recording behavior which can be judged later? This kind of technology use would set a precedent for other jobs in society. This is definitely a step towards a panoptic, constantly under surveillance society.
However, this would also mean that officers would be under gaze as well. An officer may choose their words carefully when dealing with the public or an offender if they know it will be played back later, or used in court.
In the book Snow Crash, there were citizens known as Gargoyles who had this kind of gear, hoping to sell their footage to media or police depending on the circumstances (e.g. Bank Robbery, Hit and Run car accident, Paparazzi style celebrity sitings). So, moving away from fiction, will todays people take up by responding likewise?
This has kind of happened with Mobile phones. With photo and video facilities people can already take footage of what’s going on around them. Are we going to see the bluetooth headsets incorporate video and photo capabilities? (Just in case they see something interesting or are feeling threatened?)
Are you ready to be watched as recorded by everyone?
( Via Schneier on Security – Head-Mounted Police Cameras in the UK )