2010 Winter Olympics To Bring Public Surveillance To Vancouver

"Vancouver looks set to get the ball rolling on installing controversial CCTV cameras during the Olympics. It's meant to be temporary, but civil liberties critics warn the move will pave the way for permanent closed-circuit TV cameras in public spaces.

The province and Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit have made up to $2.6 million available for the temporary use of CCTV during the Olympics.

V2010-ISU is recommending the cameras be deployed along the Granville entertainment district, at the cruise ship terminal area, and at two city-operated 'Live Sites'.

All that's left to do is for the city to officially request the money.

But Micheal Vonn, policy director for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, says previous Olympic cities, such as Athens, brought in temporary cameras only to see them made permanent after the Games.

"It's the standard drill with the Olympics," Vonn said in an interview. "We have no reason to believe these will not be left as a legacy.""

ORIGINAL SOURCE: No Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics On Stolen Native Land