To Combat Crime, Houston Calls for Mandatory Video Surveillance
The Texas city has drawn fire from civil liberties groups for a new ordinance requiring bars and convenience stores to install security cameras and share data with police — without a warrant.
A new law in Houston requires businesses like convenience stores to beef up their security.
Photographer: Benjamin Lowy/Getty Images North AmericaEver since privately owned security and surveillance technology began to proliferate in US cities, local law-enforcement agencies have been eager to deputize these devices for their own investigations.
Many of the partnerships are voluntary: Amazon’s Ring doorbell network funnels footage back to police readily — sometimes even without the permission of the camera’s owner. Homeowners associations install Flock license plate readers with the intention of supplying police with actionable evidence of package piracy. Detroit’s Project Greenlight hooks police up with live surveillance streams from local businesses that choose to participate.