Gee, that post sure polarised comments!
When I made that post response back in November 2016 I had just been referred to a 54 minute video clip that was then currently circulating, which has only in the last few months been removed! That video amassed 3.8 million views! If there was a slightly fortunate aspect to this, one had to belong to UTube to actually view it, so hopefully that would have ruled it out for the bulk of children....hopefully! It was loosely censored.
Let me say, I am all for external video surveillance....the more the better! If somebody is going to do something intensely personal or foolishly noteworthy in public and they get filmed.....more fool them! And I am the first to admit that not all that goes on behind closed doors should be condoned under the cloak of secrecy.
When I watched that clip my overwhelming feeling was one of sympathy for all those unsuspecting people who were caught in personal moments. Nothing was spared, women showering, people in their jocks trimming their toes nails, scratching away at a blackhead, their seating position filmed from a unfortunate angle, and of course all those never-ending intimate scenes. These people were not breaking house rules, they were not doing anything destructive, they were not paid actors, they were just being themselves. They had paid good money to be in that space and to leave the woes of the world behind. They all had one thing in common....they had no idea they were being filmed!
I felt a sense of revulsion not just for those who feel this sort of activity is to be expected....a sort of required part of doing business, but for those who, having come across it, felt it worth sharing with the rest of the world!
What sort of mentality thinks that's ok?
I am even uncomfortable about surveillance of a private outdoor entertaining area, a patio, a swimming pool, a hot tub area. There are too many in the world who are prepared to exploit a situation. I have a friend who works in the legal field and has stated that blackmail is a common scenario where surveillance footage is concerned. For some legal practitioners it now forms the backbone of their business.
Years ago video equipment was bulky and of poor quality, you would little chance of distinguishing the Queen of England from 'Pink'! Now a 4K camera which produces crystal sharp images and footage can be purchased cheaply and hidden in something smaller than a box of matches.
Hosts who choose to have internal video surveillance should be forced to disclose it in prominent lettering directly below their listing title...."This property uses internal surveillance equipment" and further down in the description they should state what areas the equipment records or views, and let the prospective guest assess if they wish to pursue a reservation there.
If a host is caught having installed, or used, undeclared internal surveillance equipment their account should be immediately closed and they reported to Law enforcement! And privacy laws need to be beefed up to protect against invasion of privacy.
I don't retract a single word of what I said a year ago, in fact I probably feel more strongly about it now than I did then.
Cheers.....Rob
