Technology and Crime
1-9-13 WOSO Commentary
Recent murders in the US and Puerto Rico highlight the role
of technology in crime that can be for good or evil. On the evil side,
technology has taken a black eye respecting
violent video games and the unrestricted sale of assault weapons; on the
good side is the enormous potential that technology can have in preventing and
resolving crime.
The savage murder of a mother asphyxiated, stabbed and
burned by her adopted son and his friend because she disciplined him too much brought
home the insensitivity created by video games. When the police officer asked
the son´s friend if he had felt any fear, the matter of fact answer was that he
thought he was playing the video game Grand Theft Auto IV in which the player scores points in carrying
various violent criminal acts, . The very weak defense of the video game
developer was that murder of a mother was not one of the crimes in the video
game. This response is indicative of the insensibility to the problem.
The use of assault weapons in the Newtown Connecticut
elementary school massacre brings to the forefront once more the controversy
between firearm proponents led by the National Rifle Association and those like
myself who understand there needs to have reasonable controls. A recent Business
Week issue had a report that epitomizes how far the NRA will go to oppose any
gun control measure. In 2007 Philadelphia, with a death rate of one person per
day (sounds like a good rate in comparison to Puerto Rico, right?) wanted the
state to implement a measure requiring persons to inform the police within 24
hours if their guns are sold, lost or stolen. The goal of the measure was to
curb those who buy guns and sell them on the black market. The NRA fought this
at the state level and after two years Philadelphia decided to pass this
measure via a city ordinance. The NRA argued that this had to be legislated at
the state level so this city ordinance has not been enforced. In fact, the NRA has promoted legislation in
Kentucky and Florida that penalizes local officials who promote or permit gun
control measures. According to Business Week, and I quote, “under the Florida
statute, municipal leaders who let any existing gun ordinances stand or who
adopt new ones can be fined $5,000. They also can be fired by the Governor.” Wow!
On the other hand, we all know that technology can be
utilized positively to fight crimes. We have recently seen how cameras at
ATM’s, public streets and plazas, and commercial locales have effectively
identified criminals. Basta Ya has developed a program that permits an eye
witness to contact the police on a confidential or non confidential basis with
crime information. Another Puerto Rico group has developed a program regarding
the location of illegal dumps. I foresee the day when cameras will be able to readily
identify perpetrators, and provide the evidence to facilitate successful
prosecutions with live videos of what took place and the contemporaneous
testimony of witnesses.
Let’s continue to invest and promote privately and publicly
in good technology that prevents and resolves crimes. We certainly have the
incentive. We certainly have the talent. Do we have the will?
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