Police surveillance

[Dóchas]

A new law in ireland allows the police to use evidence against a criminal that was found whilst the criminal was under surveillance. Is this a good law to be passed as it can dramatically reduce the gangland crimes in ireland or is it just another way for the state to keep and eye on us?

[Catbus]

This sounds like it's just a quasi-Big Brother ploy. I'm sure it may cut down on some crime, but now the entire society can be watched with no penalty.

[Rascolnikova]

A new law in ireland allows the police to use evidence against a criminal that was found whilst the criminal was under surveillance. Is this a good law to be passed as it can dramatically reduce the gangland crimes in ireland or is it just another way for the state to keep and eye on us?

Those two options aren't substantively different. The state defines crime, and in a real sense also creates it; infrastructure for "keeping an eye on us" certainly has the potential to reduce the incidence of those things which the state decides are criminal. The potential of such a system to safeguard that which the people would have safeguarded depends entirely on how closely the state is in line with the will of the people.

[which doctor]

I used to not be that concerned about this stuff, but it's started to irk me lately.

I've recently been accused of a crime I didn't commit (a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time I believe) and when I was being questioned by the police (stupid I know, I should have refused to speak with them) I saw they had still shots taken from the campus security cameras of me walking around campus that night. They also had a little dossier on me with my pic and information, it was pretty scary.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

The best way to stop bad shit from going down (hell, I've got nothing against most crime!) is to address the root causes. Cameras sure as fuck don't do that.
These "solutions" are transparent as hell. It's not about protecting you an' me - it's about building an invincible security apparatus to protect the p-i-gs from you an' me.

[Catbus]

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/20/infrared-leds-make-y.html


Does anyone know if that would actually work? It seems like a good way to stay somewhat invisible in a police state. Then again there might be laws against it.

[cleef]

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/20/infrared-leds-make-y.html


Does anyone know if that would actually work? It seems like a good way to stay somewhat invisible in a police state. Then again there might be laws against it.

i've heard that these do not work to well as you attract the attention of people working the cameras and apparently the light can be filtered out??? :confused:

[Catbus]

i've heard that these do not work to well as you attract the attention of people working the cameras and apparently the light can be filtered out??? :confused:

I dunno. Infrared lights are invisible as far as I know, but there is a good chance that people could identify you if an investigation was pursued. It probably wouldn't work, I guess it would be something to bear in mind if the need ever came to it.

[Rascolnikova]

i've heard that these do not work to well as you attract the attention of people working the cameras and apparently the light can be filtered out??? :confused:

If there are people working the cameras, which there often aren't. It would seem safer to make strategic use of hats, and so forth, though.

[Dóchas]

The best way to stop bad shit from going down (hell, I've got nothing against most crime!) is to address the root causes. Cameras sure as fuck don't do that.
These "solutions" are transparent as hell. It's not about protecting you an' me - it's about building an invincible security apparatus to protect the p-i-gs from you an' me.

its not only cmeras it could be video cameras, phone bugs etc

[Comrade B]

I suggest we put cameras into the homes of the rich as to reduce white collar crime. (sarcasm)

Shoving a 3 foot aluminum pipe up our asses to prevent us from comfortable mobility would also reduce crime. We should implement this as well. (more sarcasm)