Closed-circuit Television

closed-circuit television (CCTV), also called video surveillance, system that uses video cameras to send television signals to a specific limited viewership. Unlike broadcast television, closed-circuit television (CCTV) does not openly transmit its signal to the public but rather between set points that are decided by the camera’s owner or operator. CCTV is often used by private companies, such as retail stores, to prevent crimes, particularly theft. Many governments have installed CCTV cameras in public spaces to deter would-be criminals. As a result, CCTV systems are ubiquitous, a widely unnoticed and generally tolerated phenomenon.

closed-circuit television camera

CCTV cameras are commonly fixed on walls or above doors. They are sometimes operated by remote control, enabling a user to track and focus upon subjects. More often, however, they have a fixed sight line. Some immobile cameras are equipped with a half-sphere design, providing 360 degrees of view. In recent years police departments have adopted body-mounted recording devices, though these do not typically broadcast live.

In 1927 Russian inventor Leon Theremin developed what many consider the first CCTV system. It consisted of a camera and a shortwave radio and was used to watch visitors at the Kremlin in Moscow. Another notable system was created by German engineer Walter Bruch. It debuted in 1942, during World War II, and was used by Germany’s military to monitor rocket launches. However, the system—as with the one devised by Theremin—was unable to record information, thereby requiring someone to monitor the live feed. By the end of the decade, CCTV systems were being sold in the United States, and in 1953 British officials reportedly used surveillance systems for the coronation of Elizabeth II. The usage of CCTV continued to expand, especially after VCRs became widely available in the 1970s, thereby allowing for the storage of data. During the following decade video surveillance systems were increasingly marketed to banks, stores, and other businesses vulnerable to theft. In addition, police departments began relying on footage as a critical source of evidence.

By the 1990s, digital systems were widely available, and their ability to take in more footage in a far more compact format allowed them to rapidly eclipse analog technology. Cameras appeared on ATMs and in crowded areas, such as sporting venues and train stations. The September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center led to a dramatic increase in government-operated CCTV in public spaces. Governments around the world justified public surveillance as a necessity for the safety of everyone. A boom in spending allowed camera developers to equip their products with facial recognition, a widely implemented technology by the early 21st century.

In the ensuing years, however, surveillance became a greater political issue for the public. Concerns about the loss of privacy rights and personal liberties were accompanied by questions over the effectiveness of CCTV. Notably, critics have argued that such systems fail to prevent crimes, despite that being their most oft-stated use. The evidence is equivocal, for example, whether the presence of cameras has resulted in decreases in crime in cities with high crime rates. Furthermore, it has been noted that surveillance cameras can be abused by their operators. This could involve unjustly targeting individuals or using CCTV information to commit crimes. Observers also note that governments can utilize CCTV for political means, such as repressing the populace. For example, China, which has the largest surveillance system in the world, is often accused of using the technology to stifle dissent.

CCTV figures as a symbolic proxy for government control across different media. Although it does not directly describe CCTV technology, British author George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-four (1949) is perhaps the best-known critique of mass surveillance. Various feature films (e.g., Minority Report [2002] and V for Vendetta (2005]) and documentaries (Citizenfour [2014]) have brought further attention to the ethical issue of unchecked government observation via video surveillance.

CCTV, in no small part because of its use by governments worldwide, is a rapidly growing industry. Its increase has been partly fueled by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the 2010s. AI video surveillance uses computer learning to identify faces, vehicles, license plates, and crowd sizes. AI-capable systems can filter surveillance footage to make it searchable. Other developments include the increasing prevalence of CCTV in private homes. Companies have developed cameras that can be installed at various entrances, and the footage is delivered directly to the homeowner’s smartphone or computer. Even computer and laptop webcams, when paired with an appropriate software application, can be considered a form of CCTV.