I must say I enjoyed reading this week's post. This is a very interesting concept and there is no doubt that it is controversial. However, I see a lot of potential in this business and think it could be something that could be very profitable and have an established business model. I guess privacy issues are a factor but you have to pay a subscription fee and all you'll be doing is watching store security cameras.
I'm assuming that there is potential for this to turn into a social network for the top "online security guards." The site has a point system and there is a reward of 1000 pounds, which is around $1600, every month for the top achiever. For someone that has nothing else to do and is willing to dedicate the hours into viewing security cameras, you can build yourself a nice track record and it will all be available for others to see if you want.
Of course, this is a very new concept, so who knows what the future may hold for this job. This was an interesting article that I found and it had a few different points of view. Check it out here: http://theweek.com/article/index/207916/weird-new-job-stay-at-home-rent-a-cop. "I don't have an issue with this from a privacy standpoint," says Matthew Humphries at Geek.com.
A monthly subscription would cost just below 4 dollars. I'm wondering if there's anything like this in the states yet?
-Max P
You make a good point, this business definitely has a lot of potential. It's great for the business owner that wants that extra security (I just wonder how much they charge them). It is also great for the person trying to make some extra money. Although this particular website is only available to residents in Europe, they are hoping to expand to other countries. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing websites like this in the US sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteThat reward of 1000 pounds seems pretty measly considering the fact that you have to be the top "crime fighter", if you will, for that entire month. I'm not sure, but I'm assuming there are thousands of members already - making that extremely low odds of being the "big" winner of $1,600.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it just doesn't seem like it will pay off, except for the lucky winner of $1,600 who probably spent 5 or more hours a day at their computer hoping to catch bad guys.
It's kind of scary to think this sounds like a game. This point system business is quite amusing. I feel whether online people or lost prevention employees are watching doesn't make a difference. Most of the time we already assume we're being watched by surveillance when we walk into an establishment, right? I don't see the harm until we get wrongfully accused of committing a crime because one of the online subscribers messed up. Then we'd run into a personal issue.
ReplyDeleteNancy I get what you are saying. What if this turns into a big competition, like a video game? The people at home want as many points as possible and this might distort reality. They might forget that these are actually people they are getting in trouble, not some programmed video game characters. Also the people at home might lie just to try to be the big winner at the end of the month. I still do think it is a good idea, I just hope it doesn't get out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI feel that turning this into a game has the potential to be harmful - people desperate for money and even fame or even personal agendas might abuse this. A similar surveillance concept was tried and failed in Texas. It's one thing to be viewed by 2 or 3 security guards in a store but to be watched by millions of people while you shop is different.
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