There's a controversial Web site making headlines in the UK today called Internet Eyes. Why so controversial? Well, I'll let the BBC answer that question:
Members of the public could earn cash by monitoring commercial CCTV cameras in their own home, in a scheme planned to begin next month. The Internet Eyes website will offer up to £1,000 if viewers spot shoplifting or other crimes in progress.
In a nutshell, Internet Eyes will be paying surfers to catch criminals using a system that is already in place but is underutilized.
Now, there's both good and bad to be said about this whole scheme.
Pros: there are 4.2 million (!) commercial cameras in the UK and most of them are not monitored at all. How could they be? It's impossible. With Internet Eyes streaming that footage right onto your Web browser, even the most casual of surfers could happen upon a crime being committed and help get a baddie off the streets.
Cons: There are some concerns about civil liberties being violated, since there is one camera for every 14 people and false or mischievous reports could be made. However, the folks behind Internet Eyes argue that "that this is a completely privately run service, with voluntary participants, and claim they have a system in place to disqualify anyone who makes three false reports."
What do you think of Internet Eyes? Good idea? Or a George Orwell novel just waiting to happen?
I’m not convinced about this one at all. I think the public will be a little overzealous when doing the monitoring. But hey, I have been wrong before!