Panopticities

Abstract

The video installation Panopticities portrays mega-cities through the lenses of insecure CCTV and IP cameras. Tracking software and an integrated web-server allow processing and streaming as part of the growing number of connected devices also known as the Internet of Things. These web-servers are often insecure by design, meaning they are not protected by a password or have hard-coded login credentials saved as plain text. By default, the servers stream unencrypted data on publicly-accessible network ports, providing potential risks of being intercepted allowing unknown third parties unintended access to the set-up function of the cameras. Security cameras are supposed to offer security, not provide surveillance footage for anyone to view. This paper contextualizes Panopticities among other CCTV and IP camera works, and briefly summarizes how art has reflected upon post 9/11 security cam surveillance, and how machine learning is applied to a new generation of 'smart cameras'.