Ok, we've certainly discussed this before, but, let's see a few points.
Cameras in streets have helped track children in the UK who killed a 3 year old.
Cameras force people to behave themselves.
They mainly have a dissuasive effect.
They are not meant to invade our private life as they are aimed towards the streets or public areas. If one were to accidentally be aimed in an appartment, it could be the cause for sueing the city, as its purpose would have been diverted.
Cameras can also be used inside private properties, if the owner thinks it's better that way.
Cameras are used to track those who are dangerous on the roads.
It's amazing the number of people who go against the rules on the roads but don't get punished. That's because there are various degrees of severity. For instance, around the corner, here, there is a one way street (for cars and also for bikes) and the police is often there, near jewish schools, but don't ever react when cyclists go against the only authorized direction! Not even a stop and reprimand.
On the other hand, in october, every licence plate will have to be reflective, by law.
Well, I'm very much aware of the reluctance against cameras everywhere, but I wonder if it isn't more cultural or philosophical than realistic. We have to understand there are billions of films made all the time, everywhere. It's impossible to go after every sligthest trespassing event! There are gradations, priorities.
And cameras can help us against those who are supposed to protect us and might not.
Big Brother? Well, no, simply because "big brother" is the one behind the camera and in a society with sufficient buffer against abuses, the one behind the camera can be everyone too. The minute someone with an authoritative position starts abusing his power, he'll be noticed and stopped. There are rules for them too.
And besides, those cameras we talk about are in public areas or places where there is no privacy anyway, as they are crowded!
The more surveillance cameras there are, the cheaper they get and it so turns out those very same cameras can be very useful tools when added to telescopes to provide us with very interesting astronomical pictures or movies!
Just like credit cards can help track us but are so useful we forget about that, we'll also get used to the omnipresence of cameras.

Raoul