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[Survey] Spy Cameras in the CS Lab

Started by Jerry, 2002-09-08T20:14:12-05:00 (Sunday)

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Jerry

Ok, there are now digital cameras in 2029 and 1036 that are being recorded to a large disk drive. You can view the entire capture for weeks back at any time stamp.

There is talk of making the current camera view available on the web. Or maybe letting anyone view the "movie" for the last 24 hours.

So what do you think?
"Make a Little Bird House in Your Soul" - TMBG...

Ryan Lintker

It is unfortunate that we have to worry so much about people abusing the lab or taking materials.  I think the cameras are necessary to protect the equipment, detect misuse, and protect the innocent.  While this is true, it also should only be available to qualified people to review, and not the general public.  When this video is available to anybody to view, it is an invasion of privacy.

On another note, it is really cool that it is digital video being recorded.  Maybe a future senior project could do something with this and make the information more valuable, efficient, etc.
"You can't always get what you want,
 but if you try sometime, you just might find,
you get what you need" - The Rolling Stones

William Grim

I think I have to agree with most of that.

To me, they're a necessary evil.  Although, personally, I don't find them that intrusive; however, if it was a work environment where I had my own cubicle or something, that would definately cause a problem with me.  So, basically, I think that since it's a public place and people can look around and see you anyway, I don't find it much of an invasion of privacy.

However, the tapes should not be allowed for backward viewing on the web, but a realtime feed wouldn't be so bad.  This way, you could check to see who's in the room, etc.  I think it would be more of a help than a disruption.
William Grim
IT Associate, Morgan Stanley

Michael Kennedy

I would fully expect that my IE "History" could be gone through by any SIUE employee, so being watched while in the lab would be a non-issue to me.  As long as screens aren't readable while watching online, a realtime feed or a taped feed is also a non-issue to me.  It is publicly funded and in an open room so privacy should not be expected when using campus resources.  

I think I mostly get that feeling from sometimes watching over the peons at my work with Ethereal.  As long as a notice is posted I think there would be no problem with anything mentioned- a webcam, an archived "movie", etc.
"If it ain't busted, don't fix it" is a very sound principal and remains so despite the fact that I have slavishly ignored it all my life. --Douglas Adams, "Salmon of Doubt"

Ryan Lintker

I guess I feel more strongly towards it being an invasion of privacy because I do work there.  If a student is trying to get help, especially the kind of help that I am not supposed to give (complete algorithms, code snippets, or even THE answer), that student could file a complaint and have video that could really make it look like I just gave him or her the cold shoulder.  For me it isn't just a public open lab, it is my workplace.
"You can't always get what you want,
 but if you try sometime, you just might find,
you get what you need" - The Rolling Stones

Jim Sodam

Well, I don't feel that it should be publicly available.  What if you are logging into cougarnet, or even something more important.

If the person can replay it as often as they like it wouldn't be hard for them to pick up your passwords.

Other than that, I wouldn't do anything in the lab that I would worry about someone else seeing to begin with, so it doesn't make much difference to me.

Michael Kennedy

QuoteI guess I feel more strongly towards it being an invasion of privacy because I do work there.

Hmm, I didn't look at it this way.  I certainly don't want a webcame put in my office at work for any reason.  Live feeds wouldn't sit well with me and archived feeds would be horrible.  I could see one in my office and have someone comlpain becuase you could see I didn't answer the phone or something.  After hearing that I do tend to side with you Ryan.  

So, remove one from the "Hey, its a public place paid for with tax dollars there is no expectation of privacy" and add one to "An invasion of my [and the employees] privacy".
"If it ain't busted, don't fix it" is a very sound principal and remains so despite the fact that I have slavishly ignored it all my life. --Douglas Adams, "Salmon of Doubt"

Victor Cardona

I find it disturbing that the school felt the need to place cameras in the computer labs. I admit that we don't have an expectation of privacy when we enter the labs, but the placement of cameras in the labs serves no useful purpose other then to intimidate students and stifle their quest for knowledge. Any student who uses the labs is now forced to worry about how his or her actions can be construed by anyone watching the recording. When a group of students meet in the labs will they later be accused of cheating? Will a student who looks at the connections on the back of the computer he is using be sent a bill if that computer breaks down sometime in the future? The bottom line is that we don't know how the recordings will be used or abused by the school, and that should make us all nervous.

Victor

Geoff Schreiber

As long as they are only there for a security purpose, I don't care.  If something is stolen and a tape is reviewed, cool, the person will be caught, but live or 24-hour viewable is a concern for things like posted about passwords being figured out, etc.  Heck, I knew the cameras were there, but never even cared to look and find out where they were until I just happened to see them the other day... Why must you be nervous if a camera is around? Yea, it's human nature, but you'd be surprised when you were being videotaped and didn't even know it in MANY places...  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Geoff Schreiber
Project Engineer
FASTechnology Group

Fred Jones

I think the camera thing is fine... I look at it as a part of the school.. they  are not putting them in the bathrooms or in the bedrooms of the dorms so it is not a problem with me..

(just a mind bend)
have Fun
Fred