Time-Lapse Shows Illinois’ Surveillance Expansion in 2 Years

It's been said that if you put a frog in a pot of water and just slowly turn up the heat, the frog won't realize that it's been cooked. That principle could apply to the sheer number of security cameras that have now been put in place all around Illinois. A new time-lapse video shows how the Land of Lincoln has transformed into a surveillance state in just two short years.

I just came across this compelling time-lapse video that was shared on the Illinois sub-Reddit. It will open your eyes to what is happening quietly, but quickly around you.

Watch Illinois' transformation into a surveillance state in less than two years
by
u/HolyBatSyllables in
illinois

How many flock cameras are there in Illinois now?

Flock Camera Locations estimates there are now 7,138 security cameras across all parts of Illinois. That's a staggering amount of overwatch. For the sake of full disclosure, I have numerous family members who work in law enforcement and I fully support their need to be able to locate the unlawful. However, there's a balance between privacy and safety that we haven't found a happy middle ground for yet. Sure, if all of these cameras were being managed by honorable enforcement, that might be a different story. But, there are numerous reports of law enforcement abuse of flock cameras. Until we find a way to insure that type of treatment doesn't happen, all of us should be alarmed at the constant expansion of surveillance. In the wrong hands it can turn Illinois and other places where this is happening into the type of place portrayed in the Tom Cruise movie "Minority Report".