Smile, or maybe not

Smile, or maybe not

Lima News: The Ohio Office of Homeland Security plans to link thousands of traffic and security cameras. The idea, we’re assured, is to allow for more sets of eyes in an emergency. William Vedra, executive director of the Ohio Homeland Security agency, told The Columbus Dispatch it’s not Big Brother, just a way to let first responders get a quick look at what’s going on during major accidents.

We’re not discounting the need for such connectivity in a system of security and traffic monitoring cameras.

This is about keeping state employees from abusing a system that can spy on people.

Horror stories

And the present state administration has a horrible record when it comes to keeping state employees out of those records.

Police, court and Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle employees this year went looking through “American Idol” runner-up and Toledo native Crystal Bowersocks records. She got an apology.

Officials in Gov. Ted Stricklands administration in 2008 checked state databases, presumably for dirt, on Joe Wurzelbacher after “Joe the Plumber” gained national fame for supporting Republican presidential candidate John McCain in his run against Barack Obama.

It would be much more reassuring if state officials showed any seriousness about protecting that privacy.