Installing more surveillance cameras to fight crime is becoming a topic of debate. While some assert that this is an invasion of human privacy, I am still convinced that the disadvantages of security growth outweigh its advantages.
On the one hand, the sweeping use of cameras might be beneficial in some cases. Firstly, these technological gadgets will act as a deterrent to crimes. Those with illegal intentions will become reluctant, owing to concerns about live evidence and higher arrest rates. Secondly, by incorporating AI algorithms, such as facial recognition and analysis, into the surveillance system, Police could enhance their capabilities in criminal tracking and increase the success rates of suspect capturing. As proof of that, after the appearance of high-tech assistance, London’s police claimed that the investigation time had decreased by 15%, as opposed to the previous performance.
On the other hand, in spite of the merits mentioned above, I believe that pervasively installing more video cameras in the city, ranging from public to sensitive areas, could be a negative measure. The principal one is that the proliferation of camera utilisation will be a repression of freedom. City-dwellers, therefore, are insecure about expressing their true feelings due to the fear of invisible angst, which forces them to pretend in public space. According to research conducted by Hong Kong University in 2020, after a protest in 2019, about 65% of citizens commenced using masks to hide their identities because of the increased number of cameras. In addition, cybercrime rates might rise along with the application of surveillance cameras. Numerous realistic scenarios have shown that cybercriminals can easily breach the internet security walls and hack into surveillance systems cameras to obtain the home and workplace addresses of innocent residents. As a result, they might be under attack or blackmailed with serious threats by those criminals.
In conclusion, while security cameras may have some positive aspects, I believe they are eclipsed by the more significant drawbacks.