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Internet Eyes falls at the first hurdle

Interneteyes Just a week ago Big Brother Watch reported on the launch of the Internet Eyes snooping scheme in three outlets of Budgens in Norfolk.

Thankfully, the shop owner has seen sense and stopped using the system barely a week later after receiving a number of complaints from his regular customers. Jinx Hundal said:

“The last thing I wanted to do was upset my customers. I have spoken to customers via our customer forum and there have been concerns raised, with customers saying they were uneasy about being viewed by members of the public. I made a mistake and I am genuinely sorry for that.”

This is a positive step. Shop owners will not want the negative publicity associated with a system allowing strangers to spy on everyday customers for financial gain.

Tony Morgan, the creator of the site, said this:

“The intention behind the Internet Eyes service has always been to protect the retailer and their patrons. We are disappointed that the trial has met with opposition and fully support the retailer’s decision to end the scheme.”

34 businesses have signed up to the system and the stores in Norfolk were the first to go live. If anyone has information about other stores using Internet Eyes please email us on [email protected] so we can make it public and put pressure on the owners to think again about this heavily intrusive system.

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Big Brother Watch Posted in CCTV
  • Richard Craven

    Excellent news. Well done to BBW for highlighting this problem.

  • http://www.annaraccoon.com SadButMadLad

    I think we should push for customers of other shops where normal monitored CCTV* exists to raise their concerns that members of the public might be viewing them. Security guards who monitor such CCTV are members of the public, there is nothing special about them. They can, just as much as someone somewhere else in the world, copy some video and post it on youtube.
    Security guards gain financially too from spying on everyday customers.
    What I’m saying is that Internet Eyes is no different to anyother CCTV system. If you don’t like IE in Budgens you must not like CCTV in Marks&Spencers. They are exactly the same thing.
    * I say monitored as opposed to recorded just in case of a crime type CCTV. But there isn’t anything to stop a voyeur watching such recorded video.

  • Richard Craven

    Well said SBML

  • NeverSurrender

    I wholeheartedly agree with your comments SadButMadLad.

  • mpbaz

    whoever runs this site is mad. Why would you want to stop a shop from helping them from losing stock and catching people who steal from them? You tell a corner shop owner he is wrong for having a helping hand catch thieves..you are looking at this all wrong

  • David

    @mpbaz
    There is a right and a wrong way to do things. Schemes such as this are distasteful because they encourage citizens to spy on each other.

  • stopspyingonus

    I spoke to customer services in a large department store after visiting the loo and finding CCTV in there – the woman I spoke to had not noticed it and as shocked as I was when I told her. I have not been back to the store since so I do not know if my comments made any impact on their spying.

  • Richard Craven

    @stopspyingonus
    Please tell us which department store was perving on its customers in the toilets.

  • Steve

    I don’t know what the last few are talking about but, re. the Spy cams. Security Guards are employed and, have to follow guidelines and rules. Non employed public don’t and some of them will succumb to the temptation to cause trouble for customers, just because they can. It’s a power thing.

  • barbara morrow

    The only people who are afraid of webcams are people who have something to hide.Are Budgens being dictated to by shoplifters.the watchers do not know where the shops are and we never watch shops in our own postcode

  • http://MI5.gov.uk James Bond

    What retard made this site? Internet Eyes is a fantastic idea if it helps stop crime. Surely you would only be against being seen on CCTV if you had something to hide? I fail to see your motive….

  • Thief Taker

    On IE the viewer cannot choose a camera to watch, cannot move or zoom the camera and the camera times out after 20 minutes and is replaced by another in another shop. The idea in that 20 mins is to alert the store owner if suspicious activity is monitored !! Smaller stores that use the service cannot afford to have full time security or afford to lose stock to thieves.. BIG BROTHER WATCH, What exactly is your point .

  • http://www.qrcctv.co.uk CCTV Installation

    I do not agree with this: “The only people who are afraid of webcams are people who have something to hide.” Privacy is more important than many of you think!
    CCTV Installation company
    http://qrcctv.co.uk
    Quick Response CCTV

  • Rob Anthony

    Agree with last two posts. Been a viewer for last 3 months and cannot see people or shops I know and the “prize” system works well for those of us who are disabled and cannot find suitable employment.
    What’s perverse about watching unknown people walk around a similarly anonymouse shop?

  • Phillerz

    You say it failed, Yet their website is still up and running…