March 27, 2007
Gay Couple Under Uncomfortably Close Watch in Trailer Park
Arguments over home surveillance and privacy are raging in a Tampa, FL trailer park, as a gay couple protests the constant recording of their home by a surveillance camera. David Adair and Michael Gaudette, widely regarded as friendly, model homeowners by their neighbors, have been constantly videotaped by neighbor Darrell Damron, who believes that the couple should not live there because he does not support their lifestyle. Damron set up the camera after complaining about several things, including the volume of the couple's television and a claim that they threw rocks onto his roof. Adair and Gaudette have complained that Damron's constant recording is an invasion of their privacy, and that his constant threats are unnecessary and make them feel unwelcome. Damron refuses to take down his surveillance camera or cease recording, claiming that it's his right to protect his own home from harm.
This tiff over home video surveillance outlines an interesting issue about its use. Surveillance in public places like stores is clearly defined - stores may record their patrons while they are on public property in order to maintain safety and order, as well as protect their merchandise from theft. When a customer enters a store with a video surveillance system, they implicitly agree to be recorded in exchange for shopping at that particular store. This agreement is not so clear with residential security cameras like Damron's. While he feels that his home is under threat by his neighbors, there hasn't been any evidence that they are threatening, nor have they agreed to be taped under such close scrutiny. Gaudette and Adair also have nothing to gain from Damron's surveillance, unless you're counting the tarps they've covered their house with in order to retain their privacy.
In neighborhoods where people live so closely, this kind of issue seems inevitable. Do people have the right to constantly watch their neighbors through a surveillance tape? How should the privacy of others be protected, if at all?
Read more about Gaudette, Adair and Damron at TampaBay.com...
Posted by Jennifer on March 27, 2007 4:22 PM | Comments (0)
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