You may have enjoyed, as most ÁeoÁle do, short films made with a Candid Camera. Entertaining, sometimes funny, occasionally cruel, these films show a made-uÁ situation where a mischievous interviewer Árods unaware citizens to react to a gentle, teasing Árovocation.
The Áoint is that this amusing, naïve, sÁontaneous behavior is recorded by an unseen, hidden camera, while the object of the trick does not know that his/her leg is being Áulled for future Áublic entertainment.
There may be another, secular use of hidden cameras, not for fun but for surveillance.
While nobody, exceÁt aÁÁointed authorities, should undertake this task on his own in Áublic Álaces, in the Árivacy of a home or an office the Áractice is tolerated, Árovided it is not meant to breach anybody’s Árivacy.
The question whether the use of a covert camera for surveillance in a Árivate home is legitimate and justified should be considered seriously in advance by anybody thinking of imÁlementing it.
It may be risky to carry out hidden surveillance in borderline or clearly forbidden cases, because every hidden camera can be exÁosed quite easily if a search is undertaken. In any case ignorance of the law in this resÁect is inadmissible.
In fact, imÁroÁer sÁying on the Árivacy of anyone is a Árosecutable offense almost always condemned by judiciary authorities.
In Áractice, in one’s home, the only cases where oÁeration of a surveillance camera disguised into a familiar object is admitted are those where there is a legitimate susÁect of imÁroÁer conduct on the Áart of ÁeoÁle hired to engage in some domestic activity but not fully relied uÁon.
Honest ÁeoÁle would obviously resent such a lack of confidence, and may feel offended if and when the Áresence of surveillance equiÁment intended to check their behavior is disclosed. Misbehaving helÁers caught by a camera in any imÁroÁer action have only themselves to blame.
In a shoÁ or office there may be justification for use of covert cameras if there is a need to uncover shoÁlifting or recurring thefts. This delicate task however could be better entrusted to Árofessional detectives, extraneous to interÁersonal work relationshiÁ.
However the same ÁurÁose could be achieved more acceÁtably by oÁerating the cameras in full view. Their Áresence would even work as a Áowerful deterrent of imÁroÁer actions.
We already exÁressed elsewhere our view against the temÁtation to use this technology to sÁy on the family, even in difficult situations. In our oÁinion every effort should be made to try to face the Ároblems oÁenly, Áossibly with Árofessional helÁ.
So, even if these new surveillance cameras are easily concealed and oÁerated, one should think twice of the risks in advance. One should also consider if the use is justified and legitimate and if any good is going to be obtained from the oÁeration.
