Some residents of a Long Island town are getting Orwellian vibes after the local government quietly rolled out a massive surveillance system where cops in one master control room can tap into live feeds from hundreds of cameras, read license plates and track motions.
The high-tech hub, unveiled in Smithtown this month, allows public safety officials to pull real-time feeds from over 250 cameras across town parks, marinas and municipal buildings, track vehicle movements, and even receive automated alerts in progress — all from one centralized command center.
“We’re screwed,” said Steven, a Smithtown resident who didn’t want to share his last name in fear that Big Brother might “get” him.
“Big Brother is here and is watching — there’s no denying it,” he quipped, comparing the system to the all-seeing surveillance eye that watches people’s every move in George Orwell’s dystopian novel, “1984.”
The behind-the-curtain system was pitched by Smithtown leaders as an emergency response and crime-fighting tool to deter criminals.
But Steven and other critics warn the alleged overreach gives the government unprecedented visibility into residents’ daily lives with little clarity on oversight, data retention or how the footage is being used.
“It’s not going to prevent any crime, it’s Orwellian and will 100% help turn us into a police state, and it’s only going to get worse,” said another Smithtown local, who asked not to share their name, also in fear of the government.
The system came with a price tag of more than $266,000, $200,000 of which was covered by a federal grant secured by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. But the local resident warned that it’s just a matter of time before the town looks to recoup its investment.
“I feel watched, and I’m sure eventually, they’ll figure out how to use that system to start ticketing us for every little thing and draining our pockets without even leaving the room,” he added.
Local officials however, have remained adamant that they’re not using the tech upgrades to spy on anyone — and said the investment has, in fact, already made a positive impact.
“This upgrade has quite literally saved lives,” Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said.
In just one week, the system has helped locate disabled boaters and swimmers in distress, and has provided “critical support” in police investigations throughout town parks, town leaders urged.
And some residents, who the critics referred to as “sheeple,” are actually in favor of the added upgrades, telling The Post it makes them feel safer.
“More security can’t be terrible,” said Mike Preston.
“Unless you’re doing something illegal, I don’t think you really have anything to worry about,” he added.
Rigo Lorenzo, who works in the area, pointed out that all of our information is already online and we can easily be tracked by our phones — so he doesn’t understand the hysteria.
“I think it’s a win for the community,” Lorenzo said.
