Who does not want to be Big Brother? To be the all-seeing, powerful god of all? Well, maybe not "domineering god of all" but being the all-seeing person will be just as dominant, don't you believe so? That can be one reason why there are many issues with regards to utilizing hidden spy cameras, assault of privacy being one of these. Power is basically something that anyone hates and, paradoxically, everybody likes. Spy cameras, while they're a benefit to a specific person, could be so harmful to another. They could be an essential tool or something that will put you down.



There is this one case involving a professor who used a hidden camera disguised as a button to videotape mischevious students in school. The students together with their families have filed charges against the said professor for "abusing her authority" and filming the students without their permission. Yes, it was illicit for the professor to do such, yet if we evaluate the other direction, we may notice that what the professor was basically doing was exposing these behavioral matters to the public so that they may be addressed accordingly. I'm somewhat sure that the Virginia Tech accident is still new on all people's minds. Such behavioral leanings could have been detected beforehand and subsequently stopped the tragedy from happening. If a concealed spy camera is what it requires to avoid such tragic occurrences, then I will not mind teachers recording their students at school by any means.

Still there are also some who misuse the benefits of hidden video cameras. I will assume everyone is aware of matters of shameful actions caught on tape that are being used to blackmail a person. Or those that blatantly invades someone's privacy as in placing concealed cameras in places wherein surveillance is not necessary, like the restroom or personal rooms for reasons of personal gratification or lascivious intent. Stalking utilizing spy video cameras is also another form of misuse of this technology.

Yet there's one thing that shocks me. A number of homeowners use nanny cameras to check their baby-sitters and house helpers while they're away. And these nannies aren't attentive of the placement of the spy camera till they get caught performing some hanky-panky and dealt with about it. Yet no one seems to be complaining. If they get caught mistreating a kid or doing something inappropriate, the issue of the nanny's right to privacy is never raised. It's because the owners have the power to do whatever they want to secure the family and the nanny did something wrong.

Thus, when is the use of hidden surveillance cameras justified and when is it not? Apparently, the thin red demarcation dividing them is a lot thinner than we believe. When the person making use of the surveillance camera is in power, its use is justified. Nevertheless, if resorting to use hidden spy cameras would make us more secured, then I am for it. Moreover, why will I be concerned about it when I'm not doing anything that is against the rules or is morally wrong? But just as long as they maintain well behind the line, it will not be an issue.