It Could Happen…
I.W.
“Citizens On Patrol” was once a satire movie in the late nineteen eighties. In the movie the police trained citizens on how to take back their streets and the comedy ensued. However Boston’s new “I-Witness” is no laughing matter.
With a simple click, citizens are able to record live video of crimes in progress. Then the video is uploaded directly to the nearest police station for review.
It uses the location technology already on your phone system.
“It’s so simple and easy to use.” Officer Guerra held up a cell phone with the app already on screen. “You just click and record, after sixty seconds it automatically sends the video to the nearest police station. The app will help the local police on many different levels. This will reduce response time, the video is tagged and the quickest route is plotted for the officers to follow. It alerts our officers ahead of time to the situation, so they are no longer going in blind. It protects the citizenry because not every criminal is aware enough to realize they are being recorded. The app has a setting if you want to remain anonymous.” the officer shifted through the settings. “It’s helpful for a solid conviction in court, and speeds up processing. That will save the tax payers about fifty thousand a year in paperwork and background checks. The video is admissible in all courts of law across the country.”
That is true. The phone videos are admissible evidence in every court of law now. Just last year a convicted rapist who recorded his sex crimes on his phone was convicted in Utah after his phone was found in an Alabama rest stop. A crime that would have otherwise gone unpunished.
Supporters of “I-Witness” applaud the app for giving power back to the people. In crime rampant neighborhoods many victims are afraid to step forward. This app allows them to anonymously clean up their streets and take back control of their neighborhoods.
Privacy advocates insist this is a serious breech of privacy. Privacy Advocate Bill Rush complained, “This I-Snitch is a terrible idea. It leaves the police work to the common man. Is that their job now? What do we pay the police for anyway, if it’s not to police the streets? I don’t see how they can put the burden of public safety on the shoulders of hard working americans. I don’t like the idea of people secretly recording videos of other people in general. If I was having an argument with my friend and it looked like it got out of hand, I don’t want to go to jail for it. Just because some do gooder with a phone decided he was going to the right thing. Now I have a criminal record, and I can’t get a job that will pay more than minimum wage. How is that fair?”
Fair isn’t the concern of most people. Most people are more concerned on whether or not it is legal.
“Think about this.” Charles Rattison creator of I-Cheat explained. “When I created my app and started I-Cheat.com it was to catch cheaters and post them online. If it was my husband or wife, I would want to know. I was just giving them that outlet.”
I-Cheat is an app that utilizes facial recognition and cross checks legal documents to look up a persons legal martial status. It will post the legal couple’s drivers licence picture side by side. If you notice the faces don’t match you’re encouraged to make a short video and upload it. The spicier the better, as these videos are user rated.
The maker of the app insists it’s all public information and the people are in public places, so it’s all legal.
“We are losing more and more of our privacy everyday, and people don’t even notice.” Bill Rush complained. “They gladly give it up for the convenience they get in return. They have no idea what they are giving up for their laziness. And it’s getting harder and harder, legally anyway, to get it back.”