Secrets Hidden in Plain Sight:Discover What You've Been Missing

7. Camera Flag

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Considering the plain sight hiding of a surveillance camera? This company just made a breakthrough in that. Though the idea of hiding surveillance cameras is not new, the example given in this book pushes the idea to a fresh degree of creativity. The opening of the chapter, "Thinking of hiding a surveillance camera in plain sight? This company just made a breakthrough in that." grabs readers' attention right away by implying a creative solution to a shared security concern. "Disguising the security camera as a brick is a definite way to prevent thieves and burglars from noticing they are being watched." This approach to camouflage, which we might playfully term "camera-flage,"  represents a major development in covert surveillance technology; it is both simple and clever. For a number of reasons, hiding a camera under a block works especially well. First of all, many suburban and metropolitan settings abound in brick. They are so ubiquitous that they usually blend into the background of our visual field; we simply ignore individual bricks in a wall or building. For a surveillance gadget, this makes a brick the perfect disguise. Second, bricks are stationary, unactive objects. Unlike some possible disguises—such as ornamental objects or false plants—a brick does not shift or move. This stability facilitates camera placement for consistent, dependable observation without generating suspicion. This disguise's success depends on the idea of concealing it in plain sight. This method makes the camera itself appear indistinguishable from its surroundings instead of trying to hide it behind or inside anything. This is a useful application of the idea that the most obvious hiding spot is usually one so common that it goes unnoticed. Technically, designing a camera that can operate successfully under disguise as a block poses various difficulties. Any required sensors and the camera lens have to be hidden inside the "brick" such that their functioning is not compromised. The employed material has to be able to replicate the look of a real brick and allow visual data to be transmitted. Like a real brick, the gadget would also have to be weather-resistant and strong enough to survive outside circumstances. The book implies that this invention could have consequences outside of private security: "The police could learn a thing or two from this." Law enforcement departments might thus benefit from such technology in the operations of surveillance. But this also begs serious moral and legal issues regarding public space privacy and the scope of allowed monitoring. Using concealed cameras such as this brick camera also addresses more general concerns in society about surveillance and privacy. Surveillance technology questions our presumptions about when and where we might be under observation as it gets more sophisticated and less obvious. This might cause difficult discussions over the harmony between security and privacy in the public and private domains. From a criminal justice standpoint, these covert monitoring systems could be quite helpful in obtaining evidence and discouraging crime. Monitoring regions free of obvious cameras could discourage criminal conduct and gather evidence should crimes arise. But the use of such technology must be controlled by suitable legal systems to stop abuse and safeguard civil rights. The idea of the brick camera also captures a larger technological trend toward downsizing and interaction with commonplace objects. Smaller and more energy-efficient cameras and other sensors will probably help us find more instances of technology coexisting peacefully in our surroundings. Often referred to as ubiquitous computing or the Internet of Things, this movement begs privacy and data security issues even while it promises to make our surroundings smarter and more responsive. For homeowners thinking about security systems, this kind of disguised camera presents fresh opportunities. It enables more thorough monitoring, free from the visual impact of conventional security cameras, which some may consider invasive or ugly. In historic sites or other locations where obvious security measures can compromise the aesthetic surroundings, this could be especially important. But depending on the jurisdiction, the use of hidden cameras—even on private property—may be subject to regulatory limits. Property owners would have to make sure they are following all pertinent privacy and surveillance rules and laws. Ultimately, the idea of a surveillance camera masquerading as a brick is a deft combination of environmental camouflage with security technology. It shows how creative thinking may turn commonplace products into advanced security tools. Although this technology presents fresh opportunities for covert monitoring, it also calls for serious consideration of the ethical, legal, and social consequences of progressively invisible monitoring tools. Innovations like this will surely be very important in determining the conversation and practice of surveillance as we negotiate the balance between security and privacy in an ever-connected society.