Tucson, Arizona  Monday, 12 February 2001
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/10212rspying.html

By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES

PHOENIX - Think you're being watched?

Two lawmakers think you're not being paranoid. And they hope to do something about it by restricting who can watch you where - or require that you be told when you are being spied upon.

The House Transportation Committee will debate one bill today to make it illegal for any government agency or employee to monitor private property. The legislation, HB 2511, is broad enough so that "private property" could include cars on the freeway.

Later today another House panel will consider a measure forbidding most people from videotaping anyone in a public place unless there is a notice "prominently displayed."

That proposal, HB 2470, does have exceptions ranging from prisons to news reporters.

But this bill, to be considered by the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, contains criminal penalties for violations.

The bills come after it was revealed that every one of the estimated 100,000 fans at last month's Super Bowl in Tampa was scanned with cameras and their images digitally encoded to compare with files of known criminals, terrorists and con artists. Designers of the system said they expect it to be used much more frequently.

Rep. Robert Blendu, R-Litchfield Park, said he was crafting his proposal before Super Sunday. But Blendu said that event convinced him the state needs to set standards for surveillance.

"In absence of any public policy, it appears the government and agencies do whatever they want to," he said. "Why should a person who has done nothing wrong have his picture taken and put into a database?"

His measure specifies that if any public agency using a monitoring device, be it camera or other electronic equipment, may direct it only at public property.

The other measure, sponsored by Rep. Gabriella Giffords, D-Tucson, takes a different approach. Her measure deals only with people in public places and does not actually ban anything. Instead, it specifies that whoever is doing the watching must inform all who enter the area that they are under video surveillance.

It also is broader than Blendu's bill in that it restricts not only the government and its employees but also private businesses and individuals - save the notable exception of "professional journalists" who still could videotape anyone they wanted in a public place.

Like Blendu, she sees a problem with omnipresent cameras, ranging from the Super Bowl to banks and department stores, even extending into dressing rooms.

Giffords said she isn't saying videotaping for various purposes, including police and security, is bad. "I just want people to know that it's happening," she said.

The first-term lawmaker said she expects opposition from retailers who have become used to using security cameras to deter thefts. Giffords said, though, her bill doesn't affect that effort.

In fact, she said, it actually could help it, as would-be shoplifters are informed that what they may do will wind up on videotape.

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