Privacy Digest

Caution vital with police camera use - The Advocate: "It's good that police will meet with residents to discuss the use of surveillance cameras in parts of South Norwalk. And it's good the police chief appears aware of the cameras' potential to invade people's privacy.

But city officials must make sure privacy concerns remain front and center over the long haul; that they don't fade as we all get used to the idea of electronic eyes keeping tabs on us.

The cautionary vision of science fiction writers is quickly becoming the norm: In stores, banks, schools and many places out on the street, cameras are already recording what we do.

Even so, Norwalk is about to step over a significant threshold. Police surveillance cameras are to be trained on parts of South Norwalk and Calf Pasture Beach by early July. The Department of Public Works already has cameras posted at several traffic intersections in the city, but this will be the first time that police control cameras aimed at privately owned areas.

The Common Council in February approved spending $100,000 on surveillance equipment, including wireless antennas that will be installed at the beach, police headquarters and Monterey Village, a privately owned low-income housing complex in South Norwalk. The towers will allow police to train mobile cameras on South Norwalk locations where criminal activity is heavy. Camera surveillance could spread to other parts of the city in the future.
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