Satellites and new technology have enabled our culture to become more global than ever. In our text, Practices of Looking, the author refers to us as “global citizens.” We are so used to knowing what is happening in the world around us and being under constant surveillance that we hardly even realize that this is new to our generation. Many times what we think we may have done in private is far from private. This has led to some very negative experiences for many and the concerns are valid. However, the shift from small town happenings to global awareness and tracking have helped a few families find children who have been abducted in a world so large that this would not have been possible prior to this global citizens’ era.
The trend of businesses throughout the developed world has been to have security systems that have surveillance cameras in place. Although there are not a lot of statistics available of the success of these systems, common sense and news stories often stand alone in telling the tale. Criminals are often caught because they are videotaped in action. This has to make some criminals think twice, because the fear of getting caught is a strong deterrent. Regardless of whether it has slowed down crime, it is a trend that has exploded. Most businesses have some type of surveillance. As a result, we are constantly being monitored and recorded.
One benefit beyond security and catching criminals is rescuing abducted children. Although it has not helped a ton of families rescue their missing children, it has helped a few. Prior to this trend of surveillance, finding a lost child was primarily objective. The searchers would have to make their best guesses about where to look. Even though there is still a lot of guess work involved in locating lost children, there has been a shift to a more subjective way to search. There are two advances in our global culture that help make the objective search more subjective. The first is the ability to look at the videos of a suspected siting and confirm if it is really the missing child. The second is the ability to broadcast the search into the homes of people everywhere. When there is a confirmed siting, the people in the area can be made aware and help in the search. This positive outcome in the “satellite panopticon” of our ability to observe and be observed everywhere has made life better for at least a handful of families.
The following are examples of missing children who have been found through the assistance of video surveillance and national media attention:
1) The most recent miracle was the case of Brittany Smith. Her mother was murdered and she was allegedly kidnapped and taken out of her home state, Virginia. December 6 she was seen on camera at a Wal-Mart in California. CNN aired the story. “Recognizing their images from CNN, a San Francisco supermarket clerk alerted police after spotting a Virginia girl and her alleged abductor,” according to police. The girl was found safe and the man with whom she was found was arrested. This girl may not have been so fortunate had authorities not been able to identify her and post alerts in that area.
Police: Missing girl, alleged abductor panhandling before being found
By the CNN Wire Staff
December 13, 2010 11:23 a.m. EST
Surveillance video shows Easley and Smith at the Salem Wal-Mart on Dec. 3
2) In 2005, Shasta was kidnapped and missing for seven weeks before she was rescued. She is another fortunate victim who was rescued because of cameras.
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, July 5, 2005
Kidnapped Girl On Surveillance Cam
By Scott Benjamin
Authorities in Idaho say 8-year-old Shasta Groene told a horrifying story of violence and abuse at the hands of convicted sex offender Joseph Duncan. CBS News' John Blackstone reports
3) In October of this year a child was abducted from the yard of her home. The mother was unable to find the truck that belonged to the abductor. However, the truck was taped on a video surveillance camera and through the help of citizen the girl was located and rescued. “A Video Policing surveillance camera captured the vehicle crossing a nearby intersection. More than one hundred police officers, along with sheriff's deputies and highway patrol officers searched through the night. But ultimately at around 6:30 in the morning Victor Perez saw the picture of the pickup on the morning news. He saw the truck pass by his home, ran out, got into his vehicle and gave chase.” http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7709262
There are over 800 satellites surrounding our planet that advance technology to a new level of surveillance that is almost inconceivable. Through surveillance and other technologies the world has become very global. We have the ability to monitor and keep track of what is happening just about everywhere. These trends have become so much a part of our culture that we barely realize it. What we knew about the world used to be much more objective. Through video and personal experience we have a much more concrete basis for our thinking. Our thoughts and feelings are intertwined with information from around the world through our television in our homes. This awareness has shifted how we experience life. Although the intended use of most surveillance videos is to protect us from criminals or at least help apprehend them after the fact, there beneficial use extends beyond the intent. Satellite technology also had its origins in the protection of citizens. These advances in technology are interwoven into our postmodern culture. Ironically, in a world where the original intent and success of the inventions and use was to minimize crime, these devices and technologies sometimes allow for other invasion type crimes to be committed. However, the examples above show how video surveillance technologies along with the ability from satellite to broadcast those pictures have enabled authorities and citizens to be directly involved in the rescue of abducted children. The trends that have made us “global citizens” have made our world safer and in these cases have given a few families a modern day miracle.
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