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City Council, video cams, and George Orwell

Updated: Monday, April 28, 2008 6:44 AM PDT

Very soon the new Lodi "tourist" cameras will be placed on top of the Lodi Stadium 12 Theater.

In my opinion, these cameras amount to spying. They infringe on our right to privacy. Why should someone have the right to view you through a computer monitor just doing your daily business?

The novel 1984 tells the story of what happens when a totalitarian government takes over the country by having security cameras everywhere-watching every action. George Orwell's story might actually become a prediction if Lodi's City Council spends our money on live streaming cameras! This could lead to more and more cameras in every part of Lodi. Not only will the City Council be able to watch everything you or your children do in downtown Lodi, so can everyone else.

Does anyone else see a problem with this? I sure hope so.

Travis Connors
Senior
Lodi High School

Reader Feedback

Lodian wrote on May 5, 2008 7:18 PM:

" Giovanina: Just wondering... how long have you been on these boards? You don't seem to know Leonard very well. "

Lodian wrote on May 5, 2008 7:17 PM:

" Leonard 10:10 AM: That was funny! lol

"

Giovanina wrote on May 5, 2008 6:25 PM:

" Leonard wrote on Apr 28, 2008 6:12 PM:

" Daniel: You are aware, are you not,that Orwell was a Socialist? "

I would have to agree with Leonard. Leonard knows the definition of a Socialist.
"

danielH wrote on Apr 29, 2008 11:50 PM:

" Leonard: Enjoy the party. "

Leonard wrote on Apr 29, 2008 10:11 AM:

" danielH wrote on Apr 29, 2008 7:58 AM:

" Leonard: Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm accurately describe key features of communist power. "


Unlike you, Orwell understood the difference between Socialism and Communism.

"

Leonard wrote on Apr 29, 2008 10:10 AM:

" danielH wrote on Apr 29, 2008 7:59 AM:

" I think Leonard has me on his Google alert. He is probably using a keyword sequence like "danielH AND Leonard AND lodinews.com."


Actually, I just google "misinformation" and "half-baked conspiracy theories".

Your posts come up every time. "

danielH wrote on Apr 29, 2008 7:59 AM:

" I think Leonard has me on his Google alert. He is probably using a keyword sequence like "danielH AND Leonard AND lodinews.com." "

danielH wrote on Apr 29, 2008 7:58 AM:

" Leonard: Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm accurately describe key features of communist power. "

sam wrote on Apr 28, 2008 9:29 PM:

" Cogito, the REAL T&C...not the new phoney. "

Cogito wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:34 PM:

" I agree with Sam. If Leonard is moving, we need to get together for a little going away send off for our friend. Good thing about cyberspace is that interaction never has to change, you just need to adjust for time zones. Lets invite T&C too! "

sam wrote on Apr 28, 2008 6:25 PM:

" Ahh, Leonard, you cannot leave us when you move to Texas. The blogs would not be the same... kind a like the way the blogs feel now without the real T&C. "

Leonard wrote on Apr 28, 2008 6:12 PM:

" Daniel: You are aware, are you not,that Orwell was a Socialist? "

Cogito wrote on Apr 28, 2008 3:07 PM:

" The bottom line is that I have nothing more to hide in a Target store than I have on the street. I want our government to make our streets safer by taking the bad guys off it. When I feel safe, then I feel free. "

Cogito wrote on Apr 28, 2008 3:03 PM:

" Daniel, I used to be involved in a ministry that worked with kids in CYA. One time I was talking to a kid who felt he was unfairly busted for murder because the whole thing was caught on a street camera. If the camera weren't there, he would probably have been free to kill someone else. No remorse whatsoever. A killer is behind bars because of that camera. Having someone murder you is a greater violation of ones civil, and Constitutional rights, than the mounting of a silly camera. I have no problem with it, but I know Leonard will. "

danielH wrote on Apr 28, 2008 12:50 PM:

" addendum...surveillance in the general public, at taxpayer expense. "

danielH wrote on Apr 28, 2008 12:49 PM:

" Trackback, Cogito: I agree that court evidence can be procured from public without a search warrant, and yes, in 1984, surveillance was 24/7 both in and out of the home.

However, I think I have a right to walk down the street without being photographed by the government ... without having live feed into the NSA in Washington.

There is a difference between a private property or business owner installing surveillance videos to protect their own property and for security.

I also think it is OK for survillance inside government buildings for the same reason.

I do not condone surveillance in the generalPublic. "

papercut wrote on Apr 28, 2008 11:33 AM:

" Why not use those cameras on the eastside to patrol the crime or for red light runners like Stockton? Comcast can't even get a city webcast right so don't even consider them. No cameras. Or, if so, cameras in city hall to show how hard our public servants and their lapdogs really work for their wages? "

Trackback wrote on Apr 28, 2008 11:26 AM:

" In 1984, the telescreens were actually in the home. In contrast, here it is proposed that the camera be located in a public place, where people can watch you anyways camera notwithstanding. You don't have a right to privacy in front of the movie theater, and so no, I don't see a problem with this. What I do see is a problem with the City Council, if they are willing to spend 10,000 dollars, when I am sure there are much better things. "

Cogito wrote on Apr 28, 2008 11:00 AM:

" Nylodian, due to the wide angle necessary to cover the area, coupled with the size of a computer screen, I doubt that you will be able to watch the area in much detail. I agree, this is probably just a waste of money. I can't think of anything that would be of much benefit here. It's really just a dumb idea. "

nylodian wrote on Apr 28, 2008 10:08 AM:

" dogbark: let me clarify - from the earlier article, the PD won't be recording, so again, I don't see how this is beneficial.

You may be comfortable with the idea that you or your child can be recorded and posted on YouTube and other sites without your knowledge, but many others aren't. "

nylodian wrote on Apr 28, 2008 10:02 AM:

" Cogito: re: "would you feel better if these people were watching from their parked car across the street?

LOL! No, but you have to admit this is just one more tool for those with a harmful agenda. "

Cogito wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Nylodian, would you feel better if these people were watching from their parked car across the street? "

dogbark wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:52 AM:

" "Won't have recording capability"
Gee, I am at caveman level on a pc, but even I can figure out how to record from a website.
"

nylodian wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:35 AM:

" My problem with the webcam is it is a waste of money. As stated in a previous article, it will not have recording capability, so it cannot aid in helping police with downtown crime. Also with so many pervs out there, I am concerned that some will use this as a tool to scope out the kids who hang out there, or gang bangers scoping it out for rivals, muggers for easy targets to rob, etc. "

al da long wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:32 AM:

" Maybe some parents can see if their kids are being "good" or just play'n drunk.
for privacy, what are you worried about?
are you doing something illegal? if not then walking across the street and someone seeing it online, ooooow! don't drive your car on the freeway, there's traffic cams too.
sincerely Big Bro "

Cogito wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:21 AM:

" I don't think anyone has a right to privacy in a public place, or a private place owned by others. Businesses have been using security cameras for years, along with airports and other places where it is deemed necessary. Many homeowners are installing security cameras. Do you have a right to privacy when you walk down the sidewalk in front of private homes? Because, trust me, someone is watching you more than you know. If you want some privacy, your best bet is to stay home. "

danielH wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:03 AM:

" Travis: Great letter! I am glad to see someone making reference to 1984, other than myself.

I appreciate how you are able to relate 1984 to our own society. It's too easy to point toward someone elses society with the presumption that it's not happening here.

I'll add that the City of Tampa deployed a prototype surveillance system which featured facial recognition software.

Next, I would expect a city to proclaim that it captured an (alleged) terrorist as a result of the software and surveillance system. [yeah sure.] "

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