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Public surveillance cameras in Austin a PR-driven boondoggle

The Austin City Council today appears likely to approve new police surveillance cameras downtown supposedly to prevent crime, though there's no empirical evidence cameras in public places will achieve that goal. Reports KVUE-TV:The Austin City Council will vote on a measure Thursday that would add 23 surveillance cameras in downtown Austin.Austin police would place the cameras in "hot spots" in downtown. Police will consider crime data, expected crowds, and community requests to determine the exact locations.KVUE adds that "privacy advocates say the cameras are a bad idea. Texans for Accountable Government say Austin is turning into a surveillance state." But to me, privacy concerns aren't nearly as big an issue as the mere fiscal and managerial stupidity of the idea...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on December 16, 2010 (boomark / email).