I believe that so many types of surveillance both undermine and enhance our society. In some situations, it can be beneficial, but can also hurt our society's image at the same time. Police brutality is one of these circumstances
For instance, situations such as that at the drivethru in the YouTube video easily cleared the drivethru attendant's name. It was very clear that she put the bill directly into the slot for tens. When the manager came to check her drawer, you could hear him say that she did not even have any twenties in her drawer. Through the tape, you could also see that she did not try to slip any bill into her pocket or steal it in any way.
However, it captures a downfall of our society, and that is the misuse of power within our social system. Even after the attendant said that she didn't take the money, instead of looking in the drawer or searching the woman (which she willingly offered many times), he resorts to spraying her with mace.
While these technologies are beneficial in proving a person's innocence, it can also tarnish another's reputation. Some would say that recording technologies have gone too far with cameras available on cell phones, digital cameras, and even laptops, not to mention how cheap recording systems have become.
Although it is somewhat ridiculous that everything seems to be equipped with some sort of camera or camcorder, it is a good way to keep people in check because of the risk of someone videotaping any wrongdoing and therefore getting caught.
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I too have a bit of trouble dealing with the fact that you can’t buy any piece of technology these days without it being equipped with a camera and video capabilities! Is this technology overkill, or the way of the future? I would have to claim a little of both.
The case of the drive thru girl is a prime example of why we do need video cameras in some places of business, and mainly anywhere that money changes hands. Cameras in this respect protect both parties in any transaction. However, what kind of society do we live in that allows this police officer to retain his position as a civil representative of the law after spraying an minor, innocent girl repeatedly in the face with mace? It is a sad state of affairs in my opinion, and the real crime here is that even with all this evidence against the officer, and the misappropriate way that he behaved, there is nothing that can be done to stop him from keeping a position of power in society? How would this battle have turned out for the clerk had she not had this video evidence?
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