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We now have 50 cameras monitoring the downtown area 24/7. They say since it is in public areas we have no expectation of privacy.

Just where is this happening? You say a lot, but don't tell us anything useful.

Pawpaw wrote:Just where is this happening? You say a lot, but don't tell us anything useful.

Downtown El Paso. The resolution of these cameras is amazing.

are they available on the web, or is big brother the only one who can watch as it happens?

This may be new for El Paso but it's not for many cities.

mojo84 wrote:This may be new for El Paso but it's not for many cities.

They are all over the DFW area.

Are they monitoring to prevent crime or simply monitoring citizens for some nefarious reason?

Anyone...?

Since El Paso is a border crossing city. They have always had cameras everywhere. They also have plate readers if you are driving past a check point.

There was no web site mentioned for general public viewing. They stated that the tapes would be stored for 30 days for the Police to ID criminals and witnesses. If a witness does not come forward voluntarily, what pressures would be applied to extract their account of a crime?

As far as cameras and plate readers being utilized in the past, this is true at the Border crossings , which is on Federal land and done by the DEA. These methods have not been utilized on City and State land or roadways. If cameras had been utilized, why haven't the Police utilized them for the purpose they are claiming now?

WTR wrote:There was no web site mentioned for general public viewing. They stated that the tapes would be stored for 30 days for the Police to ID criminals and witnesses. If a witness does not come forward voluntarily, what pressures would be applied to extract their account of a crime?

As far as cameras and plate readers being utilized in the past, this is true at the Border crossings , which is on Federal land and done by the DEA. These methods have not been utilized on City and State land or roadways. If cameras had been utilized, why haven't the Police utilized them for the purpose they are claiming now?

I'm sure they do use them for identifying criminals,etc.. Unfortunately not all crime happens within sight of cameras. They also use private security cameras, such as those at gas stations, ATM machines, etc.. There are not many places, where there are not cameras of some type, but they are usually only in higher traffic areas, so there is still a lot that could get missed. It's not an issue for me, everybody has a camera on their smart phones now, so I always try to smile so I look my best.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to have privacy anymore. That is unless you're in the middle of nowhere, completely off the grid and no phone, banking, internet, etc.

I'm not so sure what one does in public can be considered private in the first place.

Makes you wonder how far we are from the society in the TV show "Person of Interest"

TVGuy wrote:Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to have privacy anymore. That is unless you're in the middle of nowhere, completely off the grid and no phone, banking, internet, etc.

Did you know you can glympse people now?

lildave40 wrote:

TVGuy wrote:Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to have privacy anymore. That is unless you're in the middle of nowhere, completely off the grid and no phone, banking, internet, etc.

Did you know you can glympse people now?

Uh, no thanks.