RE: On January 28th, Criminals No Longer Another Face in theTampa Stadium Crowd

From: Chris Russo (extropy@russo.org)
Date: Thu Feb 01 2001 - 14:03:13 MST


>I found the original article to be somewhat
>we-try-hard-to-be-objective-although-naturally-we're-not-ish, so here is a
>link to another article on this issue - a bit better from my point of view:
>
>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/16561.html

Ugh, but The Register's
all-corporations-and-governments-are-out-to-screw-you point of view
is more objective? :)

For example:
>Everyone entering Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida last
>Sunday was subjected to the surveillance system cameras, set up at
>the entrance turnstiles. No notice or disclosure was ever given, and
>no one, therefore, had an opportunity to decline to enter the
>stadium if they should have objected to this unprecedented treatment.

Why would having extra security at a big event like the Super Bowl be
a reason to give notice? Were they doing brain scans or illegally
tapping cell phones or something? Would having extra officers there
have been a reason to give notice? Of course not.

and:
>'Similar or matching.' This clearly acknowledges the possibility
>that innocent civilians going about their peaceable business may be
>stopped, hassled, even arrested, merely for resembling someone
>naughty. This raises sticky issues regarding the presumption of
>innocence many of us were encouraged to believe in during our
>grammar-school civics lessons. Is there a violation of this
>principle when a person is required to produce evidence that they
>are not, in fact, the evil bastard whom they unfortunately resemble?

This is a problem in the non-technological law enforcement world as
well. It's unfortunate, but mistakes in identity happen. The police
in such situations have a responsibility to treat suspects with
respect and to ascertain their true identity as quickly as possible.
Why is the technology at fault or the tactic of using the technology
in a public place? Maybe if the technology got a few more criminals
off the streets, the odds of your looking like one of them would be
reduced.

Regards,

Chris Russo

-- 
"If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought 
or deed, I will gladly change.  I seek the truth, which never yet 
hurt anybody.  It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance 
which does harm."
              -- Marcus Aurelius, MEDITATIONS, VI, 21



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