Publicizing crime

Closed circuit television, more known as the CCTV, has tremendously changed one's perception on security. In my recent personal experience, I was awakened by the screams of teenagers by our gate. They ran so fast that I was not able to get a glimpse of who they were. With a few taps on my smartphone, I was able to identify them and raise the issue to the proper channels. The same also goes for crime; it could be properly documented with these security cameras.

A more explicit footage was the shooting incident in Nueva Ecija where two individuals were shot point blank while they were on board a bus. The video reached thousands of individuals as it made its rounds in social media. It triggered trauma in those who have seen it. In Cebu, the week was also filled with crimes that were caught on camera such as the theft in Liloan town and the modern jeepney incident in Mandaue City.

While these videos are good materials to support a visual story, the media could not publicize it as it is. There is a concept of sanitization where gory and sensitive parts of the videos are censored to prevent any trigger. News outlets are also bound to protect the rights of the parties involved, as stated in the Data Privacy Act. Faces of suspects in the acts of crime are blurred; the face of the victim is blurred as well. Unless there is consent from both parties (which are often unattainable during the time the video is obtained), then their identity cannot be seen.

This creates a misconception in the audience who are unaware of these ethical protocols. The media are receiving comments such as being protectors of criminals, liars, and putting out the story for the sake of having content. While the audience' reaction falls under the premise of free speech, I personally think that there is a lack of education on media literacy. If there is such a thing as crime literacy, I'd like that to be included in the lessons as well too.

Netizens, on the other hand, should think twice before posting their own CCTV videos. Others may be putting it out in their social media profiles out of spite. But when mainstream media picks it up, they want to retract everything. That's not how it works; even the authorities are trying to wrap their head around investigations that are reported through Facebook and the like.

On the other hand, we still need to be vigilant. CCTVs will not replace our human security guards. It is also not an excuse to let our guard down. It is simply a tool and an aid in ensuring that all lawless acts will be documented. There is no exchange for being careful, doubtful, and attentive when out in the public or even in one's own house. Cameras can only do so much, but it is the job of the law enforcers to go after perpetrators of crime. In a nutshell, not everything should be publicized.