Ring doorbell, anyone?

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I don't know why this is called "security" when it all it provides is POST tragedy information. It doesn't PREVENT or stop anything from happening. WATCHING your neighborhood on video will never outpace the security of being engaged and communicative with your neighbors.

I've installed some of these doorbells on condo units for people - right next to the lite or window that also provides a perfectly clear view of who's at the door or on the property. Boggles the mind - then again, go to any coffee shop where people are engaged with a tiny screen instead of talking with the person right in front of them.

I have better things to do with my life than 24/7 surveillance of my neighbors.
 
It doesn't PREVENT or stop anything from happening.

Porch pirates definitely notice these devices. It's certainly not going to stop any motivated intruder if they've decided they are going to come into a home. But many thieves will go after the easiest target and look for the lowest probability of getting caught. A camera helps reduce those chances.
 
Porch pirates definitely notice these devices. It's certainly not going to stop any motivated intruder if they've decided they are going to come into a home. But many thieves will go after the easiest target and look for the lowest probability of getting caught. A camera helps reduce those chances.

Based on evidence or speculation?

The evening news is filled with videos of porch pirates who are never caught despite the cameras. Could this be a FALSE sense of security that might even render you more vulnerable in ways you haven't even contemplated yet? Are you prepared to prosecute the porch pirate and endure whatever fallout occurs with that?
 
I used to install burglar alarms for my brother's alarm company. Alarms don't stop theft, they only deter it. Most physical theft involves targets of opportunity. Your best protection is to make another target look simpler and lower risk.

Porch piracy involves little effort and is relatively low risk. Most investigators lack the time to investigate small crimes and DAs are even less likely to prosecute if an arrest is made unless there are other extenuating circumstances (parole violation, drug charge, prior convictions, etc). A doorbell camera makes it much easier to investigate and prosecute a theft. Chances are the porch pirate hit up other homes. If there are half a dozen videos of the same porch pirates along with some identifying information such as car plates, the case is more likely to get prosecuted. At some point enough cameras may be out there that the tide tips and this type of crime decreases sharply. It is hard to say if and when that may happen. However, it is not too hard to imagine an app where one can upload a video and matching videos are found automatically via AI.

Consider banks. They have had fancy video systems and armed guards for years. They still get robbed, and it is a federal crime even if one only nets a few hundred dollars. At least all the security makes bank
 
Based on evidence or speculation?

The evening news is filled with videos of porch pirates who are never caught despite the cameras. Could this be a FALSE sense of security that might even render you more vulnerable in ways you haven't even contemplated yet? Are you prepared to prosecute the porch pirate and endure whatever fallout occurs with that?

I've thankfully never had a package stolen.

But on the spectrum of leaving your front door open all day to Fort Knox - each additional layer of monitoring and prevention should offer a marginal improvement.

If I had something stolen and had to choose how much effort to put into recovering the package, it would obviously depend on what was stolen. Most of my gear purchases require a signature so I send them to my office rather than my home so I don't miss the delivery drivers.

But the one thing my doorbell cam did help me do is figure out which of my neighbors was letting their dog crap in my yard and not picking it up. We confronted the kid, and it hasn't happened since.
 
What is the likely future of all this archived surveillance imagery in a society where deception and fraud is such a significant part of daily life; (especially in media, finance, or government) and where editing and composition of false images is on anyone's desktop?

Does it not seem inevitable that sooner or later vandalism of these cameras will be at an all time high by neighbors and other members of a community whose right to privacy (known in law and real estate as: "right to private enjoyment") is being violated 24/7 from the house across the street?

The thing about an Orwellian society is that it doesn't happen TO us - rather we CHOOSE it for ourselves and once in it cannot escape it.
 
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Based on evidence or speculation?

The evening news is filled with videos of porch pirates who are never caught despite the cameras. Could this be a FALSE sense of security that might even render you more vulnerable in ways you haven't even contemplated yet? Are you prepared to prosecute the porch pirate and endure whatever fallout occurs with that?

If you've paid attention to the world around you, you would know that this is based on evidence. Cameras, alarms, safe's, dogs, etc .. don't prevent theft (or any other crime) - they deter it. A thief will usually go after the easiest and lowest hanging fruit. That lowest fruit usually does not have a camera, alarm, dog or other security type thing.

As for people being caught, plenty have been caught because they were seen on camera. Based on your statements, the world should not have cameras because they are of no use. In fact, speed cameras are a joke, don't even bother slowing down. Red light cameras - who cares. Dash cams and body cams - cannot be used as evidence - another joke.
 
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China has 120 million cameras monitoring its citizens. They love it. They have a system called Social Credits. Get caught doing something the state doesn't like, you lose social credits. Lose too many and your job disappears, your travel rights cease, you may lose your home. etc. This ensures compliance and makes people feel safe. Of course, their brutal treatment of prisoners is probably a great deterrent too. Whether or not the US adopts greater use of cameras or not will come down to some major event involving cameras that tips public sentiment in one way or another.
 
China has 120 million cameras monitoring its citizens. They love it. They have a system called Social Credits. Get caught doing something the state doesn't like, you lose social credits. Lose too many and your job disappears, your travel rights cease, you may lose your home. etc. This ensures compliance and makes people feel safe. Of course, their brutal treatment of prisoners is probably a great deterrent too. Whether or not the US adopts greater use of cameras or not will come down to some major event involving cameras that tips public sentiment in one way or another.
I've read about the Social Credits thing quite a bit. That scares the crap out of me. Could you imagine us having that kind of system? Most major cities big tourist areas are blanketed in cameras but they're looking for suspicious people, packages, etc. I'm pretty much okay with that. Using facial recognition to see if I flick a cigarette on the ground is crazy, IMHO.
 
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I've read about the Social Credits thing quite a bit. That scares the crap out of me. Could you imagine us having that kind of system?

We're not that far behind. Just elect Bernie or Warren or any of the other ultra-liberal socialists and we'll be even closer.
 
You watching TV? No, your wifi'd smart TV is watching YOU! You listening to music? No, Alexa is listening to YOU!
Will it make any difference, no. Convenience wins every time.
You are correct. I am a relative Luddite though. I avoid strictly voice operated devices and disable that feature on my phone and PC. I avoid 3rd party apps on those platforms and NEVER sign in to any app with my Google or Facebook ID. I also don't use those "fun" 3rd party apps that modify your pictures or tell you what your Viking name would be (or other such BS). I even require 2-step authentication for banking on my personal PC (in other words, I never check the box that asks if this is a trusted device). Of course, malware could override a lot of what I do and Google, Facebook and Amazon are always tracking what I do. Perhaps I am just giving myself a false sense of security by taking these precautions but I do them anyhow.