FINLAY SCHOFIELD

"In my second semester during my first year at Leeds Art University I researched into the use of CCTV recording within the United Kingdom. I handed in my work in the form of a book layout on a PDF and an online exhibition layout. In the book and exhibition I wrote "Most people are unaware of the amount of CCTV cameras that capture them during their day-to-day activity. The United Kingdom has roughly 5.2 million CCTV cameras. This brings up the question of do you have your own privacy whilst in public, considering you don’t always know if you are being recorded. I wanted to highlight the modern problem of the amount of CCTV cameras in the United Kingdom and how you can never be sure where the footage may end up online. There are multiple online website that allow the public to view live security cameras. Public privacy also brings up the question on street photography. Is it okay to photograph and record people in public without their permission? Although there may not be any ill intentions there is no guarantee to the public that their faces won’t end up on the internet trending on social media and displayed to the world." Upon seeing this theme of 'The Collective Issue' It reminded me of my research into the mass amount of CCTV cameras in the United Kingdom. Most likely you have been captured on multiple cameras today and there is always the possibility that you are being recorded right now."