Source: ET
Markets flush with surveillance equipment; police complain ordinary citizens have greater access to spy gadgets. ILLUSTRATION: TALHA AHMED KHAN.
Silicon chips used in computers and various electronic devices have shrunk with astonishing speed over the past couple of decades. From slower devices spread over an area equivalent to a small living room, we have moved to faster ones less than a centimetre thick.
This decrease in size, though highly beneficial to professionals and students, has side effects as well. The size of surveillance gadgets has also shrunk, and though this might be good news for law enforcement agencies, their abundant availability in the open market is alarming.
“The sale of hidden cameras has increased manifolds in the last six months,” said Rashid, a shopkeeper in a bustling Rawalpindi market who said law-enforcement agencies have no checks in place to monitor or regulate their sale.
When Rashid says hidden, he means it. Rechargeable cameras capable of recording for several hours have been placed in things as small as tie-pins, key rings, cigarette lighters, coat buttons and pens and can be bought for as little as Rs1,000.
The spike in camera-equipped cell phone ownership also has drawbacks.
Again a social and societal problem indicating mind set full of dirt and filth. Unless ethical values will not develop from the root level no measure can stop such trends. A massive effort is required to reform the Pakistani society. Those on helm of affairs have different priorities. Thanks to media which keeps on jolting the society for such issues.