The United Kingdom is about to launch the largest ARG in history! In this case, "ARG" doesn't' stand for "Alternative Reality Game," though. Here it means "Actual Reality Game." You see, Web users in the U.K will soon have to ability to monitor the nation's network of four million or so video cameras streaming video of public spaces to the internet. If you see anyone committing a crime on-cam, report him or her to the coppers and collect points (one point for seeing a suspected crime and three points for a confirmed crime.) Winning players will get their usernames on the internet in connection with the criminals they helped nab as well as cash prizes up to 1,000 Euros.
Apparently, the phrase "snitches get stitches" hasn't made it across the Atlantic.
The game will initially use CCTV cameras in shops and businesses in Stratford-upon-Avon but will be rolled out across Britain by December before going worldwide next year. As you'd expect, civil libertarians are quite upset at the idea of turning an entire nation into finks, but the police, as you'd expect, see no problem with the scheme at all.
As a fan of message-heavy, high-concept science fiction films, I am very happy to hear that the movie is finally starting. I can only assume an organized underground network of freedom fighters will attempt to disable all the cameras with laser beams. Also: A volcano will be involved somehow.
What do you think about this "game?" Would you play it if it was here in the States?
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that311guy123
Random people spying on the unsuspecting population and reporting suspected crimes...really quite frightening. I think if you do see a crime being committed you should report it, but connecting people to what amounts to being a spy camera network takes it way too far, knowing some kid in his basement could be watching you. How anyone can support this is beyond me, it sounds like a good way to deter crime until you are the one being watched, the government has no right to take away your privacy like that. What can you expect from a socialist country, though -shrug-
KoSxUnDeRkILL413
Don't wanna get caught beatin your meat...
dadial25
1984 anyone?
DZbEZ
Damn are you serious??? "They" want us to watch us now?? "They" are watching us watching us now, we will be so busy doing that while they take more of our human rights away.
ThaSaltShaker
That just goes to show that their society isn't damaged yet and still vigilant. Kudos.
Spacepope58
Now I can people watch in the nude and nobody will glair at me.
Veitzer
How will witness protection work then?
typhoon_2099
Why are we getting Euros? I'd prefer Pounds Sterling so I can use the money in Britain.
Cloud55111
And you thought Communist China was bad.
sunoccard
this doesn't exactly change to much, even if people are seen using such devices, criminals are smart and masks are cheap. on top of that the real bad-asses in the criminal underworld probably will have professional level backup to stop such cameras.
These will only work with petty crimes nothing more. Personally, if it comes to the US i'm going to going out like every day is Halloween.
Phuk5tar
George Orwell really knew what he was talking about, didn't he?
smashayre
Thing is? In Chicago, Illinois (in the U.S.) they (the police) already have cameras placed about at various streetlights to remotely monitor people and there has been a special camera system in place at some traffic light intersections to either videotape or photograph people running red lights or turning before their turn. And some police cars already have video cameras equipped.
So you tell me are we really that far from that reality right now? IMO no we aren't we're almost there...1984 here we come...
Oh and as for my answer? Hmm it depends can I choose remain anonymous so they won't hunt me down and kill me or seek retribution of some sort towards me afterwards? Also can I be paid in U.S. dollars or are Euros still out pacing the buck?
IamtheBat
I would start my own chain of porn with video footage recovered.
SimmerDown
Ridiculous.
M0NG00S3M0WD0WN
The biggest thing to come out of Stratford-uponA-Avon since Willy Shakespeare
bluepheonixia
sounds like the starting to another salem witch trials going here. McCarthyism here we come! And also, it seems to me that some nerd in the UK is going to make some sort of algorithm that will analyze hours of video for any signs of criminal activity. This will lead to him getting a butt ton of cash. just sayin
Jscribble1320
i think its kind of a neat idea. instead of these companies paying people to watch a camera for hours and hours (with little to no excitement happening 99.9% of the time) they will have people doing it for free! saves them the money! i dunno how well this would catch on though, as i know for myself that after a few minutes of watching people doing mundane things i would quickly grow bored and find something else to do. Of course there is probably the added bonus for store owners that something like this might scare more people into not doing stupid things on camera, but you know if you have ever seen an episode of COPS... some people just are not that smart. just my two cents :)
xxzachlxx
:( If only poor Jacko was here to see this :(
Cell34
Probably would be a pretty good idea except, it will also allow the criminals who are supposed to be being monitored the ability to look at which areas are viewed by cameras. In a sense, it will help catch stupid petty criminals and give the more serious ones like serial killers and professional thieves a nice advantage.
= dumb.
lltheFacell
Sounds like a cheesy si-fi moive plot
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