7 September 2001: An International Day of Action Against Video Surveillance


We propose --

1. that an international day of action against video surveillance -- specifically: the constant, indiscriminate and technologically sophisticated video surveillance of public places by both businesses and and law enforcement agencies -- take place on Friday, 7 September 2001;

2. that people who wish to intensify the struggle to protect and strengthen the right to privacy (a fundamental human right) should undertake autonomous actions at the local level and in a completely de-centralized fashion;

3. that, if and when possible, at least some of these actions should be undertaken in front of webcams that have already been installed in public places by private companies that are insensitive or even hostile to privacy concerns (in addition to disrupting "business as usual" for these companies, the use of webcams will allow the entire world to see 7s01 anti-videosurveillance actions as they take place);

4. that all individuals and groups participating in the 7s01 day of action keep in touch with at least one of the groups listed below and/or each other;

5. that at least one Web site links to or actually displays images from these actions as they take place;

6. that this proposal should be posted on-line and sent to as many people as possible and as soon as possible; and

7. that this proposal be translated into as many foreign languages as possible, but especially French, German, and Italian, for it is in France, Belgium, Germany and Italy that the anti-videosurveillance struggle is the most visible at the moment.


Participating groups as of 13 July 2001, in alphabetical order:

Aktuelle Kamera Bremen, Germany

Pirate TV London, England

Surveillance Camera Players Lithuania

Surveillance Camera Players New York, USA

The Praxis Group Minneapolis, USA