Virtual Border Watch
Controversy surrounding the U.S./Mexican border has made global headlines over the past year. Regardless of one’s political stance, a creative use of a crowdsourcing platform is an interesting story for any social media enthusiast.
The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition (TBSC) has been using a Virtual Community Watch surveillance program to let the public participate in fighting border crime. Streaming videos from 21 cameras posted along the border run 24/7. Each camera comes with description of what viewers should be looking for. For example, Camera 19 states, “this is a known drug traffic area. If you see people walking along this trail carrying backpacks or packages please report this activity.”According to the site, the cameras were placed at the request of private landowners along the Mexico border. The program generated plenty of publicity when it launched. More than 40,000 people participated, seeing it as an easy way to volunteer for their country from the comfort of their couch. During the first year, users contributed to four marijuana busts, totaling more than 1,500 pounds, and 30 incidents when illegal crossers were repelled. At a cost of about $4 million USD, the program was widely criticized when it only produced 26 arrests in its first years but others feel that the cameras serve as a deterrent, regardless. Currently, the site has posted 60 accounts of the program aiding law enforcement.
On the other side of the “fence”, a mobile application designed to assist immigrants generated plenty of publicity and controversy but was never, (at least visibly), deployed. The free GPS application had been developed to help border crossers by directing them to locations such as water stations and highways. And perhaps, to help them avoid things like surveillance cameras?
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