It’s hard to go anywhere these days without someone watching.

Whether it is driving down the road, or walking down the street, there’s a good chance there’s a video or still camera trained on you.

Look around. They’re on light posts, on the outside and inside of government buildings, and in our schools’ hallways. Most ATMs snap your photo each time you swipe your card. Businesses also have them.

Now the state is planning to connect thousands of those cameras and combine the images they collect with satellite mapping to create a network that would allow authorized users to better monitor roads, schools, and even businesses if they agree to participate.

The goal of Ohio’s Camera Integration Project is to improve emergency response.

That’s a worthy cause. The system could very well prove to be a great security tool, especially for those who respond to emergencies and disasters, and for police who investigate crimes in public places.

But the same system, if abused by those with access, could violate our privacy.

The use of the camera system needs to be closely monitored to make sure it is only being used for its intended purposes and only by those who have authority.

Otherwise, the public will have a valid argument that state government has indeed become “Big Brother.”

The (Findlay) Courier