ed Surveillance camera

A surveillance camera is like a double-edged sword. The increasing use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems has triggered a debate about security versus privacy. The devices are useful in monitoring crimes. It is also an abusive system that infringes upon human rights.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has received petitions that employers have installed the machines to monitor the behavior of their workers.

Even these complainants appreciate the merits of video cameras in protecting themselves from crimes and law-breakers.

The equipment is convenient in monitoring activities at banks, casinos, airports, military installations and convenience stores. The system is useful for observing parts of a process from a central control room when human access is not appropriate. High-tech equipment provides recordings for many years.

However, Korea is understaffed in the number of supervisors of CCTV equipment. One person is in charge of managing 45 CCTVs in Seoul. Many of the CCTVs are not equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of identifying people in question due to lack of funds.

Private CCTV cameras have higher resolution than public ones. Police also complain about vandalism of the equipment.

We cannot live without CCTV. The government needs to strengthen the protection of privacy in their use. It also needs to upgrade the quality of CCTVs for effective crime prevention. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages in the use of these devices.