Surveillance Camera Man: Who Are These Mysterious Vigilantes?

Surveillance Camera Man is a mysterious YouTube prankster who films strangers in public without their permission. His videos, which have since been removed from YouTube and other platforms, feature him approaching strangers and filming their reactions, which range from curiosity to anger and violence. The cameraman remains unfazed by his subjects' requests to stop filming, responding with I'm just taking a video. The series sparked discussions about the legality of filming in public spaces and the boundaries of privacy, with some viewers speculating that the videos were staged with hired actors. The identity of Surveillance Camera Man remains unknown, adding to the intrigue surrounding his controversial work.

Surveillance Camera Man is a mysterious YouTube prankster who films strangers in Seattle without their permission

The first video, uploaded to YouTube on May 22nd, 2013, features footage of people expressing frustration at being recorded without consent. In the first two years, the video gained over 380,000 views and 1,700 comments. On June 25th, 2013, the Surveillance Camera Man LiveLeak channel was created, and two additional videos were uploaded. The series continued to be posted on YouTube and LiveLeak, with the eighth and final instalment uploaded on October 14th, 2014.

The videos sparked debate about the ethics and legality of filming strangers in public. Some viewers felt that the cameraman was a "creep" and an "unethical voyeur", while others defended his right to film in public spaces. The cameraman himself remained anonymous, with nobody successfully identifying him.

The content of the videos is varied, with the cameraman's subjects including bewildered college students, Mormon missionaries, and individuals suffering from visible mental illness and drug addiction. One scene features a man who appears to be inspecting a home's locks, presumably to rob it later. The cameraman refuses to delete the footage and escapes after a chase. Another tragic scene involves a young woman who attempts to prostitute herself to the cameraman.

The cameraman always persists in filming, no matter the reaction of his subjects. If ignored, screamed at, or physically assaulted, he continues filming. This robotic, unfaltering demeanour adds to the intrigue and mystery of the series.

Surveillance Camera Man offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on modern expectations of privacy, as well as providing insights into mental illness, drug abuse, and homelessness in the United States.

His videos are no longer available on YouTube or archive.org

Surveillance Camera Man is a series of videos taken in public where a guy would point the camera at people doing mundane things. The subjects would often question why he was filming them and he would respond with "oh, I'm just making a video". Occasionally, he would elaborate further, explaining that people are captured and recorded on CCTV and other surveillance methods all the time, so why would they care about his camera? Despite this, the subjects would often become enraged and sometimes violent.

Surveillance Camera Man's videos are no longer available on YouTube or archive.org. There are speculations as to why his videos were removed. Some say it might be due to a violation of multiple privacy-related cases, while others suggest that he might have received a lawsuit or a cease-and-desist letter. It is also possible that he chose to remove the videos himself, perhaps due to concerns about opsec or a change in his moral stance on filming people without their consent.

While the original videos are no longer easily accessible, some people have managed to find and share copies of the videos on other platforms, such as BitChute and Vimeo. Additionally, Surveillance Camera Man has a new channel called "Vagrant Holiday", which some suggest is worth checking out.

The removal of Surveillance Camera Man's videos from YouTube and archive.org highlights the complex nature of privacy and surveillance in public spaces. It also raises questions about the role of intent and context in filming people without their consent. While some may see it as an interesting social experiment, others view it as an invasion of privacy and a form of harassment.

The subjects of his videos often question his intentions and become enraged or violent

Surveillance Camera Man is an anonymous individual who gained notoriety for his series of videos taken in public. In the videos, he would point his camera at people doing mundane things, often singling them out and provoking strong reactions. The subjects of his videos often questioned his intentions, becoming enraged or violent. This reaction is understandable, as being filmed by a stranger can be unnerving, especially when that person's intentions are unknown. Some commenters on the videos noted that the act of being singled out by a stranger with a camera crosses a socially unacceptable line.

The man's response to inquiries about his filming was always a simple, "I'm just making a video." Occasionally, he would elaborate, suggesting that people are captured and recorded on CCTV and other surveillance methods all the time, so why should they care about his camera? However, this explanation rarely diffused the situation. The man's true intentions remain unclear, and some speculate that he is simply a provocateur with no real message.

The legal implications of Surveillance Camera Man's activities are also worth considering. While the laws vary by country, many places allow filming in public spaces as long as there is no expectation of privacy. However, some countries, like Germany, require consent to film individuals in public. The man's activities may have crossed legal boundaries, especially if he filmed people without their consent or followed them in a way that could be considered stalking.

The debate around Surveillance Camera Man's videos highlights the complex nature of privacy and surveillance in the modern world. While some argue that his actions are a form of street photography protected by the right to freedom of expression, others view it as a breach of privacy and a potential threat. The intense reactions captured in his videos provide a fascinating insight into human psychology and our relationship with surveillance.

Surveillance Camera Man's actions are legal in the US, but not in Germany

Surveillance Camera Man (SCM) was a series of videos taken in public where a guy would point the camera at people doing mundane things. The subjects would often question why they were being filmed, to which SCM would respond, "I'm just making a video". Occasionally, he would elaborate further, asking why they cared about his camera when they were captured and recorded on CCTV and other surveillance methods all the time. Despite this, the subjects would often become enraged and sometimes violent. SCM's actions are an example of what is known as "street photography", which is legal in many places, including the US and, with some exceptions, Germany.

In the US, it is generally legal to photograph and film in public as long as there is no expectation of privacy, such as in a restroom. This means that if someone is in a public space, they do not have the right to prevent others from filming or photographing them. Additionally, the First Amendment of the US Constitution protects citizens' right to freedom of expression, which includes photography and videography in public spaces.

However, in Germany, the laws around filming and photography are more stringent. In Germany, filming people or taking pictures of them requires consent, with some exceptions. Surveillance cameras or CCTVs (closed-circuit television) are legal as long as their presence is clearly indicated and they only record private property. Dashcams, for example, currently occupy a legal grey area. Walking up to random strangers and deliberately recording them without their consent is illegal and can even be considered harassment. German law also requires that visitors be warned of surveillance through signage, and any material from surveillance cameras cannot be published without the express consent of all individuals depicted.

While SCM's actions may be legal in the US, they would likely violate multiple laws and regulations in Germany, particularly those related to consent and privacy. As such, it is important to be aware of and respect the legal and cultural differences between countries when engaging in activities such as photography or videography.

The cameraman himself is an interesting subject—he is fearless, immune to feeling awkward, and his identity remains unknown

The cameraman, Surveillance Camera Man, is an interesting subject. He is fearless and immune to feeling awkward. In one instance, he films a man inspecting a home's locks, presumably to rob it later. The man tells the cameraman to delete the footage, but the cameraman persists and narrowly escapes after being chased by the would-be robber. Throughout the video, a number of the cameraman's subjects attempt to physically assault him, but he always escapes.

The cameraman's identity remains unknown. Nobody has ever successfully identified the man behind the camera. This makes the film all the more fascinating—that he felt comfortable and even righteous putting a stranger's life on display but refused to show his own face.

The cameraman claims that his filming of strangers is no different from that of an unmanned security camera in a grocery store. His argument is: "If you don't mind security cameras recording you constantly, why do you mind a camcorder pointed at your face?" His goal is to make people feel how he thinks they should feel all the time in a surveillant society, in a state of constant paranoia and unease.

The cameraman's work provides a thrilling exposé on modern expectations of privacy, with additional insights into mental illness, drug abuse, and homelessness within the United States. His subjects include bewildered college students, Mormon missionaries, Scientology advocates, and individuals suffering from visible mental illness and drug addiction.

Frequently asked questions