Big Brother vibes for everyone as Vumacam's gear up their security surveillance network
How does it feel knowing that your every move may be recorded and under surveillance?
With the high rate of crime and the constant fear of having to be prepared for the worst, we can understand to some extent why security cameras are important.
Many South Africans invest in the best security systems, the most hi-tech facilities, so that they can feel safe. So they can breathe (somewhat) easily knowing that their families are protected.
But time and time again we hear about criminals bypassing these systems and becoming more and more smart about the way they go rogue.
"Apart from thousands of high-definition security cameras on SA’s city streets, security company Vumacam is gearing up to connect its surveillance network to cameras in private estates and shopping centres. Vumacam says it prioritises privacy," MSN reports.
Vumacam are a leading security surveillance company that has made its mark with thousands of cameras located around Johannesburg. Their vision is to deploy the ultimate CCTV solution across every suburb to keep our streets, properties, and homes safe.
An initiative by the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Journalism, Film, and TV and Unisa’s Department of Communication Science has revealed some concern around the rights to privacy that may be infringed by Vumacam's plans.
The concern come after Vumacam shared their intentions to gear up their systems to include "hundreds of thousands of cameras". Innately meaning that they will connect their network to access footage from shopping mall cameras, private estate cameras, and more.
This is reminding us of that American TV series called 'Person of Interest'. Private security companies pay Vumacam to access footage of their cameras for their clients, and according to the researchers at UJ and Unisa, their plans appear to be in contradiction to privacy rights and freedom of choice rights.
Picture this: "Cameras that record when you leave your house, when you arrive at work, and when you decide to secretly duck out to the mall on your cigarette break. They may see when you enter and exit a lingerie store, and perhaps even film what goes into your gift bag. When you call home to say you’re working late, they record the truth: you leaving the office early and arriving at an up-market security estate 30 minutes and 23 seconds later. All of these cameras are connected to the surveillance system of one private company." (MSN)
As much as we love the idea of feeling more protected, it is quite creepy knowing that our every move can be tracked. It leaves us feeling watched, and not in a good way.
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