#5 - Surveillance or Law Enforcement

 Surveillance Footage 

For years, surveillance footage has helped solve millions of murder and crime cases. In a world that revolves around video, surveillance footage has become an excellent source of evidence, mainly when it provides the time and date the video is taking place. Video surveillance offers individuals a source of protection; however, is it at the cost of privacy? There are multiple scenarios that I have come across that truly highlight the pros and cons of surveillance footage being used in our world today.

On TikTok, surveillance footage is used periodically by users for comedic content; however, I will come across crime-related content on my For You page. I have always been interested in true crime, so I often come across crime-related surveillance footage on TikTok. One example of this is the Aiden Fucci case. 

Aiden Fucci is a fourteen-year-old boy facing first-degree murder charges after allegedly stabbing a cheerleader 114 times. His is mother, Crystal Smith, is being charged with evidence tampering. The victim, Tristyn Bailey, who was 13 at the time of the murder, was found near Fucci's home on mother's day in 2021. Surveillance footage taken just before the murder captured what looks like Aiden and Tristyn walking towards a wooded area near Fucci's home.

@bridgettematter Surveillance video released that appear to show #aidenfucci and #tristynbailey walking. She is tragically found hours later. #florida #jacksonville ♬ original sound - bridgettematterTV

This is not the only surveillance footage that incriminates Fucci. A video taken inside his home depicts his mother washing jeans that he was allegedly wearing in the prior video.

@bridgettematter New #surveillance video in the #aidenfucci case. #tristynbailey #florida ♬ original sound - bridgettematterTV

The jeans in the video and a drain in Fucci's home later tested positive for blood, and Smith was arrested and charged with evidence tampering. Sources claim that Fucci told his friends that he was planning on murdering someone within a 30-day window, making investigators assume the murder was premeditated. 

The surveillance footage taken in the Tristyn Bailey case is an excellent example of how surveillance is an excellent source of evidence in investigations; however, sometimes, surveillance footage is taken negatively. When scrolling through TikTok, I came across a woman who claimed she and her colleagues were filmed using surveillance cameras. Although this may not seem odd, the specifics of the allegations are more surprising. 

TikTok user, @ladyelora, used to work at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. She, along with other ladies, worked as mermaid performers. She claimed that they were given the dolphin suite to change their costumes before and after shows. The individuals involved assured the performers that the surveillance cameras were turned off while changing; however, this was not the case. The ladies were filmed changing in the dolphin suite, and the footage was shown to other employees at the aquarium. 

@ladyelora Part 1: Speaking out about what happened to us as performers at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. #MeToo #NoMore ♬ original sound - ladyelora

@ladyelora Part 2: Speaking out about what happened to us as performers at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. #MeToo #NoMore ♬ dance(256762) - TimTaj

The case at Clearwater Marine Aquarium is an example of how surveillance cameras can be used negatively. Surveillance cameras are a great way to protect a community, business, and home; however, sometimes, they become available to those who have bad intentions. It begs the question if protection comes at the cost of losing privacy, and is it worth it? I think this depends on the person. It can also depend on what type of camera is being used and if those in charge of surveillance are qualified and responsible. Regardless, surveillance is an essential aspect of security, even though someone can abuse the privilege of protection.