Live Eye Surveillance

History

2021: Stores in the US use Live Eye Surveillance cameras watched by operators from India

At the end of June 2021, it became known that a large number of stores in the United States, including those owned by Shell, 7-Eleven, Dairy Queen and Holiday Inn, put surveillance cameras watched by operators from India. These stores use the services of Live Eye Surveillance, which provides owners with virtual observers from another hemisphere during the pandemic.

An observer provided by the company reviews camera footage video surveillances online and can control those areas of the store that are out of sight of the cashier and where minor thefts often occur. If a virtual observer notices some suspicious activity, he will be able to warn the cashier through speakers installed in the store. The observer also monitors the activities of the cashier himself. It is reported that one person can earn up to $399 per month (about Rs. 30,000) for round-the-clock monitoring of the store.

Stores in the United States use Live Eye Surveillance cameras watched by operators from India

However, many believe that such an initiative can do more harm than good. Eva Blum-Dumontet, senior researcher at Privacy International, believes that companies use the fear of robbery as an excuse to attack workers. In fact, such initiatives simply allow employers to make sure that employees meet their expectations, but the constant presence of a cashier's shoulder observer can negatively affect his mental health.

Another person, a former 7-Eleven field consultant, is concerned about security protocol violations during store robberies. Do not scare an armed person - because of the warning of the observer who called the police, he can panic and open fire on the cashier or other buyers. That is why banks and shops are equipped with silent alarms.^[1]

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