CCTV can be a good thing or a bad thing, just like anything else. The pros are that it can keep prices lower at stores because it can help keep shrink (loss of merchandise) down to a minimum. It can help keep people safe, and aid in the prosecution of crimes. However, it can also be used to invade privacy, such as stores with changing rooms; none of them are enclosed, and the cameras can actually see inside the changing room. The stores say it is for safety and to keep costs down. That may be the case, but I don't believe that it is the cameras that are invading our privacy, but rather it is the individual that is controlling them.

The world is full of immoral people, and the cameras can help out a lot on both sides of cases. There was a fatal accident a few months ago right in front of our office because some guy was running from the police; he ran a red light and T-boned an SUV. The news and people in town tried to make it seem like it was the cops’ fault, but our video showed that that wasn’t the case.

There have been cases where landlords and spouses have used CCTV and hidden cameras to spy on their tenants and significant others. There was a gentleman on a talk show called Dr. Phil that used cameras to spy on his wife because he was so obsessed with her. Again, cameras and CCTV don’t mess with people's privacy; other people do.

If you are worried that your apartment or hotel room might have hidden cameras, you can get a bug detector to find electronic equipment in the room. If you think it is an infrared camera to see at night, you can turn off the lights and get a regular video camera or one off a cell phone, turn it to black and white mode because the infrared spectrum shows up much better in black and white, and take a look around.

There is no way to really keep yourself off camera. Everyplace that has a camera must post that you are being recorded, and if there is audio or not. There are very few things we can do since “BIG BROTHER” is always watching. If you are in a department store and you are worried about people watching you, bring an extra jacket to cover yourself up, or just take the stuff home to try on; keep your receipt and bring the closthes back if they don’t fit. Other than that, there is really no way to keep out of the electronic eye, but if someone watching you everywhere you go in a store means that a child abduction canbe stopped or a child found, isn't it a good trade-off for a little less privacy?

So, in conclusion, dealing with a little less privacy is worth the rewards. If we made stores take out their cameras so our privacy wasn’t invaded, and something happened to you, wouldn’t you be upset that there wasn’t any proof? I don’t agree with placements of cameras looking into dressing rooms, but the best we can do is hope there aren’t immoral people taking care of the feed. When you and your family's safety is involved, there is nothing better than CCTV.