I have mixed feelings about the American Civil Liberties Union and their stance on surveillance technology. On the one hand, the ACLU has contributed invaluably to the struggles for women’s rights, gay rights and other human rights. On the other hand, their adamant opposition to surveillance seems misguided, and colored by a certain anti-police bias that runs through the ACLU’s history.
In a city like Oakland, this anti-surveillance attitude takes its toll. In a word, it makes it harder for our public safety departments—OPD, Alameda County Sheriff, CHP—to protect us. A good example is the recent shooting on Highway 4, in which a couple were fired upon while in their car. At this time, to my knowledge, no suspects have been arrested, but according to news reports authorities were hoping to find surveillance video that might help identify the culprits. This interactive map apparently shows that there are many such cameras along Highway 4.
The problem is that we have a city government that is very suspicious of surveillance in any form. As I reported here nearly a year ago, Carroll Fife and Rebecca Kaplan—who is running for Supervisor—are staunch supporters of Oakland’s Privacy Advisory Commission, which purports “to protect Oaklanders’ privacy rights” by limiting the “use of surveillance equipment and other technology that collects or stores our data.”
That sounds well and good, but here’s my question: Which are you more concerned with, the rising level of crime and violence that has engulfed Oakland, or having a law enforcement agency possess an image of your face? To me, the answer is simple: I worry much more about crime and violence. In fact, I couldn’t care less if an image of my face exists in some database somewhere.
That’s because I believe our law enforcement agencies are benign. They’re not about to hurt me, or any other innocent people. But there are plenty of feral humans in Oakland who do want to hurt me, and you. And if surveillance technology can assist in stopping these people (and law enforcement tells us it can), then bring on the cameras.
Steve Heimoff