Sunday, July 8th, 2007
By Mick Meaney
RINF Alternative News
The Australian government seems to be involved in a game of catch up with Great Britain as they increase the level of surveillance on its citizens. Now over 50 schools in New South Wales have installed CCTV cameras in classrooms to monitor student and teachers.
Many schools have already been using the cameras in playgrounds but this new measure of classroom surveillance is provoking a worrying reaction from teachers, as many are now speaking out against the Big Brother style system.
Defending the system, a NSW Department of Education spokesman said: “Not all schools are suitable for CCTV cameras, due to the size and physical layout of the school.
“Where this and legal or privacy issues are raised, a school is recommended to use another effective security measure or a combination of measures. The footage from CCTV cameras is confidential and is released to the police to help with their investigations in the case of criminal activity impacting on the school,” he said.
However, Bob Lipscombe, senior vice-president of the NSW Teachers Federation said: “Teachers are concerned about its improper use and that it may be taken out of context.”
Where is this information kept and who has access to it? How long will it be stored for and has the system been fully tested for security? These questions have yet to be answered.
A report last week revealed at least 40,000 CCTV cameras are in operation in Melbourne and the number is growing as the Australian government has been inspired by the UK on how to monitor its citizens, with no regard for personal privacy.
Global surveillance is on the increase with the UK pioneering the Big Brother template. America is also upping the level of state sponsored surveillance, with Bermuda, China, Australia and Ireland quickly following behind.
Besides the obvious privacy issues, the technology being used is not up to par and is very insecure. With the advancement of Wi-Fi, a whole new set of problems arise opening the doors to hackers and give them the ability to spy on us and record our movements.
Other concerns with the surveillance society are; how this data can be used, where it is kept and the length of time is it stored for, who has access rights to the data and who makes the decision to what is acceptable behaviour?
As seen in the UK, the Data Protection Act was created to merely humour privacy advocates and does not work under real life conditions.
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Installations of closed-circuit television (CCTV) security cameras into schools in the Australian state of New South Wales has alarmed teachers.
Quevaal
Over 50 schools in New South Wales already have surveillance cameras in playgrounds and outside dining areas. The concern from teachers arises from the pending installation of further cameras inside classrooms and also corridors.

Teachers have expressed concerns about privacy and misuse of the equipment. Senior vice-president of the New South Wales Teachers Federation, Bob Lipscombe, said that teachers are worried about the footage being used improperly, as well as the fact that both teachers and students would be filmed at work by the cameras.

The increase in security cameras being used in schools is an attempt to protect valuable schooling equipment from theft and damage, in particular computers in computer rooms. Lipscombe said that installations in computer rooms will potentially affect many teachers, as all subjects can be taught with the integration of technology.

CCTV surveillance is preferred by some schools over fitting alarm systems and physical bars on entrances to the room, as it is cheaper to install.

Lipscombe said that the Teachers Federation isn't against CCTV systems provided they are operated properly and with appropriate consent. A solution proposed is to only have the surveillance system record during times when the room is unattended.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Department of Education and Training has said that the footage obtained is confidential and used to assist police in investigating criminal activity.