A new trend has emerged where people are taking selfies with surveillance cameras, including doorbell cameras and traffic cameras. English model Alexa Chung recently posted a series of photos taken from a security camera outside her home in London. While some see this as a creative way to use technology, others are concerned about the implications for privacy and security.

Privacy Concerns

Privacy advocates like Judith Donath are worried about the connectivity of all these cameras and the potential for surveillance. Donath compared the trend to the controversy surrounding Ring’s Super Bowl advertisement, which used a family looking for a lost pet to show off how interlinked Ring’s camera networks are.

Others, like content creator Liv Darcey, see the trend as a way to play with frames and angles that feel less curated. Darcey posted a video on TikTok featuring footage taken from her own doorbell camera, with the caption “She’s always watching.” However, Darcey also expressed concern about the release of Meta’s AI-enabled smart glasses, which she believes could be used for nonconsensual recording of people’s faces and movements.

Surveillance State

The trend has sparked a debate about the role of surveillance in our lives. While some see it as a necessary measure for security, others are concerned about the potential for abuse. Artist Julia Scher, who has focused on the different shapes and meanings of surveillance for decades, sees the emergent surveillance aesthetic as something layered and self-referential.

Ruby Lin, a designer and art director in New York, posted a Ring camera selfie series on TikTok back in 2024. Lin had originally purchased a smart doorbell camera after her car was broken into in front of her apartment. “It was about feeling safer, but I still feel really torn about it,” she said. Lin’s sentiment reflects the complex feelings many people have about surveillance and security.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.