Surveillance Cameras as Modern Day Examples of Panopticism

Panopticism was a theory created by Bentham in the seventeenth century. His idea was to use panopticism for the layout of a prison. He suggested that the prison should be a circular building with a smaller circle in the middle. The prisoner's cells would be on the outside of the larger circle, and a guard would be placed in the smaller circle in the center. This way, the guard could always see the prisoners, but the prisoners could not tell if they were being watched or not.

Therefore, the prisoners always acted like they were being watched because they never knew for sure. "All the radiations of force and information that spread from the circumference culminate in the magistrate-general... It is he who operates all the wheels that together produce order and harmony. The effects of his administration cannot be better compared than to the movement of the celestial bodies" (Foucault 197). Another advantage of this system lay in the circular design preventing prisoners from communicating with each other, making it less likely for them to plan an escape. A further benefit to this design was the cost-saving feature. Thanks to the circular tower in the center, only one guard was necessary. Finally, the design allowed light into all the cells, enabling the guard to watch all the prisoners more easily. "This enclosed, segmented space, observed at every point, in which the individuals are inserted in a fixed place, in which the slightest movements are supervised, in which all events are recorded, in which an uninterrupted work of writing links the center and periphery... in which each individual is constantly located..." (Foucault 182). While Bentham's panopticism idea was originally intended for prison design, there are now many modern-day examples of panopticism.

There are many modern-day examples of panopticism. One such example is surveillance cameras. Surveillance cameras exemplify Bentham's idea because people never know whether they are being watched or not, much like the prisoners in Bentham's prison concept. This uncertainty deters many people from stealing, just as it did the prisoners from planning an escape. While they know they might not be watched, they also are aware that someone could always review the footage. Often, these cameras are placed in inconspicuous spots where they are hard to see, while some are in plain sight. Even if someone walks into a store and doesn't see cameras, they may still suspect their presence and behave accordingly. In this sense, the cameras are like the guard in Bentham's prison theory - they might or might not be watching.

One instance when surveillance cameras became a major discussion in America was after the Boston Marathon bombing. Many people wanted the government to install more surveillance cameras in the hope of preventing future bombings or other acts of terrorism. However, others believed that adding surveillance cameras wouldn't be helpful, and might even worsen things. The high costs of cameras and their repair, they argued, would divert funds from other crucial expenses like paying firefighters and police officers ("Are Surveillance Cameras Good Security or an Invasion of Privacy?" | Patch). Moreover, many felt it was an overstep in invading people's privacy. The United States is not the only country where the use of surveillance cameras is on the rise.

Some European countries now use surveillance cameras as their main tool to monitor terrorism and other events. The United Kingdom has cameras on almost every street. A big question about the use of surveillance cameras is whether they are there to protect the public or to merely spy and invade people's privacy. Many people believe these cameras exist to stop crime, but others worry about who might be watching the videos. It's not always just law enforcement; many people know how to hack into the videos, which can lead to even more crimes. Some fear that the proliferation of surveillance cameras in public places may lead to their use in more private locations like bathrooms, thus infringing on personal rights. Many argue that privacy is fast becoming a thing of the past due to the increasing number of cameras everywhere. While many cameras have provided useful information in catching criminals, some are less effective because by the time someone views the footage, it's too late to help ("Role of CCTV Cameras").

Whether the use of surveillance cameras is right or wrong, they are here to stay and aren't likely to disappear any time soon. They are perfect examples of Bentham's panopticism idea. The way prisoners treat guards is similar to how people today approach surveillance cameras. They can't tell if they're being watched or not, so they assume they are and thus behave accordingly. They also watch each other to ensure no one steps out of line, thereby reducing the burden on the guards. "The practice of placing individuals under 'observation' is a natural extension of a justice imbued with disciplinary methods and examination procedures" (Foucault 208).

In Foucault's book Panopticism, he expressed surprise that today's prisons resemble other types of buildings. "It is surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons" (Foucault 208). Bentham stated that his theory was created for environments such as schools. Even though his prison was never built, Bentham's theory will never be forgotten. Examples of panopticism abound, perhaps not in physical form, but in theory.

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