The American Civil Liberties Union has a new report out that raises concerns about the government's ability to watch and record what citizens are doing.
The ACLU's Kevin Keenan says the study finds surveillance cameras are being installed in public places without accountability or oversight. He says the danger to public freedom is exacerbated by technologies like face scanning software and radio frequency I.D. tags.
Keenan: The right to be individuals, to be different, to go out into the public anonymously, to participate in political expression that is not popular. All of those things that are a hallmark of a free society are at risk by surveillance technologies.
Keenan says the 25-page report concludes cities are moving quickly to put cameras in public places. He says it’s also happening without much public oversight or debate. Keenan says the money spent on the surveillance technology could be better used on community policing, more foot patrols and better lighting.
