Seminar Synopsis Ryan Schlimmer October 6, 2005

Observing bodies. Camera surveillance and the significance of the body Lynsey Dubbeld Ethics and Information Technology Volume 5, Issue 3 Pages 151 - 162 September 2003

General Outline Thesis Conducted studies Asymmetrical relationship Ethical problems Effects on the innocent Summary Conclusion

Thesis Ethical and social issues arise from the use of Closed-Circuit Televisions in surveillance

Studies Past studies This paper Examine the effectiveness in public and privacy protections Fail at making sure ethical issues do not arise while during effectiveness This paper Focuses on the roles the body plays

Changes in Surveillance From direct observation into virtual through new technologies Research on effectiveness vs. privacy in public Information and Communication Technologies and ethical issues

The Paradox Increased by new technologies Records our bodies, actions, and behavior Turned into virtual representations The body is the focus of attention while also being lost through virtual representations

Ethical Examples Categorization and classification Physical characteristics Behavioral changes

Conducted Studies Disproportionate targeting Norris and Armstrong British town centre CCTV schemes Categorized based on the standards of the operators Normative categories Moral convictions Operation based on assessment, categorization, and evaluation of the body Flagged by certain actions or bodily characteristics

Conducted Studies Cont. Categories: youth, known and potential shoplifters, and homeless Example: close monitoring of young black men for long periods of time Ways to approach cameras to get different amounts of attention Attention with provoking behavior Can appear as a passive subject Example: resistance of observation

Asymmetrical Relationship Relationship between the watchers and the watched Electronic monitoring is not neutral Embodiment Visibility Knowledge

Embodiment Operators are beyond scrutiny due to physical separation Operators are physically involved Examples: camera monitoring, deployment, profile setup Observed people only play a disembodied role

Visibility The observed have little means to find out who is watching them Operators are under different scrutiny compared to the observed population Operators are not exposed and can not be watched back

Knowledge People may not know if they are even being watched Operators have technologies at their disposal Organizations posses more information, instruments, and techniques for processing

Effects on People Positive Negative Feeling of protection Censoring of actions and illegal behavior Negative Intrusion of life Feelings related to self-image, self-determination, self-respect, freedom, etc. Shapes individuals not doing wrong Brief and concise behavior

Risk of Democratic Rights Racial discrimination Studies found that ethnicity was one of the major criteria groups used Presumption of innocence Scrutinized and judged based on bodily appearance Unreasonable search A “fishing expedition,” intruding upon peoples lives to catch the few minor offenders

Privacy and Surveillance Stanley I. Benn Argued that people deserve consideration in their life plans and choices Jeff Johnson “immunity from the judgment of others.” CCTV surveillance Categorization of people and therefore an intrusion of privacy

Effects Ethnicity and other discriminatory factors used to categorize people Flagged without the ability to defend Destruction of anonymities in public Haggerty and Ericson “The disappearance of disappearance.” Example: Tampa, Florida football game

Privacy Protection Different ways to protect the privacy of the observed Protect personal information Be left alone

Summary Positive and negative effects The person is lost Categorizing of bodily characteristics Discrimination based on appearance Observed by elements of the operator Intrusion upon lives

Possible Solution Explicitly define what privacy is in relation to Close-Circuit television surveillance

Questions?