Issue 41.14
I remember the day I first saw someone using their Super 8 camera to record their family on vacation. I was amazed that people could actually afford to have equipment that could capture events as they happened and, after some time and expense to get the film developed, watch it with a home projector on a screen or wall. My, how the times have changed.
My nine year old grand-daughter can and does video many of her own activities and those of our pets. My children often have video chats with their friends and even with us “old fogies” once we figure out how to do it. They sometimes record interesting events as they happen, from forces of nature to people being silly to accidents in progress to people behaving badly. We definitely live in a time when not only an intrusive government, but strangers passing by record and share the things we do. Privacy is becoming a rare commodity.
This brings up a question that we as a society and individually need to consider. When is it perfectly okay for us to record the things happening around us and when does our ability to do so infringe on other people’s rights to be left alone and have private lives?
During a particularly heavy rainstorm, my son captured the river running down our street on his cell phone. He caught a small tornado or large whirlwind that passed near the road he was on a few days before. No problem.
A person I know, routinely either records the event or makes a call on facetime (two way video on their phone) with a friend if they have any interaction with police or other officials. On one occasion he was threatened with arrest if he didn’t turn it off. In a related note, many police officers are now required by their city or state to record any traffic stops and some are required to wear a video and sound camera that records all their interactions with the public.
There are some people who routinely keep their recorder running as they shop, walk down the street watching other people, and some even provoke situations with others so they can record them and try to get them to do something offensive or violent.
It seems to me that we should all take time to thoughtfully consider how what we do affects others. Filming natural events seems fine. Protecting ourselves by recording video of our interactions with officials should be allowed; especially when they can do it to protect themselves but sometimes don’t if they are out of line. Capturing the actions of others without their permission is where we need to consider the question, “Would I want this aired publicly if I were doing it?” If the person in question is breaking the law or hurting someone, I believe they surrender their rights of privacy. Otherwise we need to be careful and thoughtful as we record the events of our lives and the lives of others – and always, remember to always back up anything on your computer that is important to you.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 32 years, 25 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.