ACLU opposes City surveillance camera plans, call it 'highly instrusive'
California Desk
May 20, 2009
Proposed Sacramento surveillance camera program ´highly intrusive,´ won´t work, charges ACLU chapter; urges City Council, Mayor to hold open public hearings.
SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union today said it was "strongly" opposed to plans to install 32 surveillance cameras and four mobile surveillance trailers by the City of Sacramento because it would be "highly intrusive" to the privacy and free speech rights of citizens.
In a letter (available upon request) to Mayor Kevin Johnson, the ACLU said the program would waste funds that could be used on "more effective crime prevention measures," citing several studies showing that cameras fail to deter crime.
"These sophisticated cameras can track who you are, where you are going, and what you are doing - recording the sign you are carrying at peaceful demonstrations, the book you are reading in the park, and who you are hugging goodbye at the train station," said the letter signed by James Updegraff, chair of the Board of Directors for ACLU/Sacramento .
Updegraff urged the Sacramento City Council to hold public hearings before accepting the grant that would enable the city to install the cameras.
SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union today said it was "strongly" opposed to plans to install 32 surveillance cameras and four mobile surveillance trailers by the City of Sacramento because it would be "highly intrusive" to the privacy and free speech rights of citizens.
In a letter (available upon request) to Mayor Kevin Johnson, the ACLU said the program would waste funds that could be used on "more effective crime prevention measures," citing several studies showing that cameras fail to deter crime.
"These sophisticated cameras can track who you are, where you are going, and what you are doing - recording the sign you are carrying at peaceful demonstrations, the book you are reading in the park, and who you are hugging goodbye at the train station," said the letter signed by James Updegraff, chair of the Board of Directors for ACLU/Sacramento .
Updegraff urged the Sacramento City Council to hold public hearings before accepting the grant that would enable the city to install the cameras.