Big Brother is watching you
Saturday, April 7, 2007 
In response to a previous post, Caty Crawford writes: "What do people think about the news that more CCTV cameras are to be fitted with loudspeakers to allow security staff to chastise people who, for example, litter? Is it just coincidental that the Government has announced this ahead of the smoking ban?"
'Talking' CCTV cameras are nothing new. Petrol stations have had them for years, the idea being that if anyone has a problem operating the pump a member of staff can guide them through the process without leaving the till. Of course, most people now know how to operate a self-service pump so the system is very rarely used, but it did happen to me once and the sound of an anonymous, disembodied voice barking orders via a concealed speaker is quite disorientating.
Meanwhile some hospitals have already invested public money installing similar systems to stop people dropping fags ends outside the building. The irony is that increased litter is one of the consequences of banning smoking in all enclosed public places; and in order to counteract that, the authorities have to employ more officials, install more CCTV cameras, issue more fines, and so it goes on.
Many people - Home Secretary John Reid among them - will argue that if you do nothing wrong 'talking' CCTV cameras won't affect you. But there's a bigger issue here - the fact that someone, somewhere, is watching, waiting to chastise you if you put a foot out of place. I'm not condoning those who drop litter or engage in other anti-social activities, but surely education is better than this oppressive, Big Brother approach?
A few months ago Austin Williams, who runs the excellent Future Cities Project, put the explosion of CCTV cameras like this: imagine that instead of a CCTV camera on every corner, a policeman with a pair of binoculars is watching and recording your every move. Viewed in that light, CCTV cameras take on a very different complexion.
Reader Comments (3)
What made me laugh about this latest little nu-labor wheeze to keep the proles in our place is hearing that the councils concerned will be holding little competitions for schoolkids to be the Voice of Big Brother.
How apt for a busybody government drunk on getting away with justifying their repressions of adult civil liberties by playing the Child Card to be attempting now to enforce "acceptable" standards of behaviour through the mouthpiece of the "pure". It's a coercion by guilt: "Don't do that! Jemima Rabbit doesn't like it."
And the only dignified response to The Voice would probably get you done on some soon-to-be-trumped-up charge of Corrupting a Minor.
Spiked online has an interesting report on the issue: "What’s worse than Big Brother? Little Brother"
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/3079/
Tessa Mayes writes: "The government is planning to recruit well-behaved and right-minded children to become the voice of the cameras in certain towns and cities. That’s right – you can now look forward to the prospect of some self-righteous 12-year-old barking orders at you as you walk down the street."
She concludes saying: "While the children’s talking CCTV initiative will last for one day only, the day of ‘switch on’ later this year, the political philosophy behind it – that adults are untrustworthy and it is acceptable to get children to tell them off – looks set to stay in place for a lot longer."
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