That was in the 90s. Now, it seems, conversation about privacy in a post-Edward Snowden world has shifted from the once hot topic of surveillance cameras to focus on eavesdropping by the federal government and data mining by giant websites. In the meantime, the NYPD has expanded its number of cameras by the hundreds in its “Argus” program, named after the monster from Greek mythology whose body was covered in eyes. The cameras are allocated to high crime areas, and a 50th Precinct spokesperson said there are no NYPD cameras in this district. 

Still, a critique of cameras the ACLU published in 2002 is arguably relevant today. An ACLU webpage broke the group’s concerns down to four areas.

• Questionable results: the civil rights watchdog says it is not proven whether cameras prevent petty crimes. As for large-scale crimes such as suicide attacks, the ACLU points out that surveillance actually attract terrorists since the devices create a record that can be spread through the media.

• Risk of abuse: Who’s watching the watchers? “Bad apples” who monitor surveillance cameras can use the video for their own ends, from voyeurism to exploiting people under the lens.

• Lack of rules: The technology has developed so quickly, rules are lagging far behind. In fact, there is no legal standard about installing cameras for government agencies, according to the NYCLU’s Associate Legal Director Chris Dunn.

• Effect on public life: The ACLU maintains that people are “more self-conscious and less free-wheeling” when they know they are under surveillance, or potentially could be.

Robert Brewster, the executive director of the Riverdale Mental Health Association, said he mostly saw surveillance cameras as a civil liberties issue. But the licensed social worker added that people who suffered childhood trauma and have difficulty trusting others might be particularly sensitive to privacy concerns raised by cameras.

He suggested people start dealing with the issue by evaluating how much surveillance cameras truly affect their lives.

“Obviously, how people experience the existence of cameras is very much dependent on what they bring to the situation,” Mr. Brewster said.