Whether video surveillance in civic space should be encouraged to deter crime or be restricted is contentious in many countries. It can not be denied that these video cameras may violate personal policy rights; however, I believe the advantages of increased security through video surveillance outweigh the disadvantages.
There are many factors regarding why people feel concerned about closed-circuit television in public areas. To begin with, closed-circuit television increases citizens’ discomfort when they acknowledge that all their movements are recorded by security organizations, which might be stolen or exploited for commercial purposes. For instance, Google and Facebook have been accused of tracking people with secret cameras, and obtaining and selling individual data to other businesses. In addition, installing many secret cameras is also a financial burden on society since the high-tech surveillance cameras the government tends to choose are so expensive. As a result, citizens will have to pay more for public services, which leads to a stressful tax situation for them.
However, closed-circuit television must be installed to prevent crime since the advantages of these cameras are overwhelming. In fact, the installation of secret cameras can ensure the safety and security of individuals from sexual harassment, terrorism, theft, and other threats. In recent years, many negative problems regarding personal security have been warned on the news not only in domestic but also overseas so it is vital to increase video surveillance to make sure that no one dares to do anything bad in common zones. Furthermore, closed-circuit television can also help law enforcement officers control the crime rate. Take Taiwan for an example, due to the advanced and dense security system, the police can easily identify as well as arrest criminals quickly; therefore, it is rated as one of the safest countries in the world due to the advanced security systems for citizens.
In conclusion, although video surveillance may cause concerns to citizens about personal data privacy and the financial burden these systems impose, it still should be installed to enhance guarantees for people as well as control the crime rate.