Surveillance System Allows Police to View Any Camera

Surveillance System Allows Police to View Any Camera

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • May 20, 2016

Everywhere you go, there is a surveillance camera watching you. This could evoke two difference kinds of feelings inside of you: either security or fear. Even if it is fear you feel, you could always been calmed by the idea that no one person could view the footage from all the cameras.

Not anymore.

WIRED reported that computer scientists are working on a way to allow law enforcement access to any camera that isn’t password protected. This could help police determine where to send help or how to respond to an ongoing crime.

“It’s a way to help people take advantage of information that’s out there,” David Ebert, electrical and computer engineer at Purdue University told WIRED.

The system, which is only just in its concept stage, relies on two tools developed independently at Purdue. The first is The Visual Analytics Law Enforcement Toolkit, it overlays the rate and location of crimes and the location of police surveillance cameras. The second, CAM2, reveals the location and orientation of public network cameras. By using these two programs, law enforcement officials could essentially have eyes everywhere.

The system does not tap into private feeds, nor does it use the cameras to look into private spaces like people’s homes. But, aggregating this data and mapping it against specific crimes or emergencies is troubling because there is no way of knowing when someone violates the terms of services and targets an individual.

While privacy advocates are frightened by this overhaul of technology into the law enforcement sphere, they realize that not all battles are worth fighting and at a certain point, need to figure out how to use the technology in the most efficient way possible.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Meeting Modern Demands

    Door hardware and access control continue to be at the forefront of innovation within the security industry, continuously evolving to meet the dynamic needs of commercial spaces. Read Now

  • Leveraging IoT and Open Platform VMS for a Connected Future

    The evolution of urban environments is being reshaped by the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and open platform VMS. As cities worldwide grapple with growing populations and increasing operational complexities, these integrated technologies are emerging as powerful tools for creating more livable, efficient, and secure urban spaces. Read Now

  • Securing the Future

    Two security experts sit down with Security Today’s editor in chief Ralph C. Jensen to discuss what they see emerging and changing over the next several years along with how security stakeholders can harness these innovations into opportunities. Read Now

  • Collaboration Made Easy Using a Work Management Platform

    Effective collaboration between security operators, teams and other departments is critical to the smooth functioning of organizations. Yet, as organizations grow in complexity, it becomes more difficult for teams to coordinate with each other. This is compounded by staffing shortages, turnover and ineffective collaboration tools. Read Now

  • Creating a Safer World

    Managing and supporting locks and door hardware within a facility is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.