伊斯坦布尔出租车安装摄像头引起人们担忧

Cameras in Istanbul Taxis Causing Concerns

Cameras are being put in taxis in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul.

Turkish officials say the cameras will provide security for taxi drivers and their passengers. But some people fear the devices are part of a government effort to expand surveillance and control over the population.

They note that more than 60,000 Turkish citizens have been detained since the failure of an attempt to overthrow¹ the government last year. In addition, nearly 200,000 people have been dismissed from their jobs over this period.

Recently, people in Turkey have been hearing announcements advertising² the arrival of Istanbul’s new taxis, called Itaxis. The ads say the taxis are equipped with global positioning system equipment to help drivers find the quickest way, at the lowest cost. The vehicles will also have equipment so that riders can pay with credit cards.

However, the Itaxis have one object that is a subject of debate: a large digital camera. When you sit down inside a taxi, the camera is clearly visible. What is unclear is whether it records sound as well as images. It is also unclear where the images go.

One driver who spoke³ to VOA is happy with the device, although he says he does not know who is watching.

"The new system is what is needed. I had an incident on Sunday night. I was attacked by a customer. If this system had been active, I would have been saved right away or the attacker wouldn't have dared to attack. There is a camera system and a panic button now."

Not everyone in Istanbul agrees that the camera is a good thing. Another person who spoke with VOA questioned the reasoning behind the cameras.

"A witch hunt is happening in Turkey now. So if they use it [the camera] for things like that [surveillance], then of course it's not a good idea to have these kind of things in the cabs."

Nearly every week, Turkey has trials for people suspected of being involved in the failed overthrow attempt.

Last year, some 4,000 people were tried for insulting the president.

Under emergency powers enacted⁴ after the overthrow attempt, Turkish officials have introduced new electronic surveillance.

That information comes from Yaman Akdeniz of Bilgi University in Istanbul. He has been studying the rise of surveillance culture. He says there may be good reasons for the concerns over the new taxis.

"Because increasingly people are under surveillance and people don't know what sort of technology or what sorts of things are deployed⁵ by the government authorities to monitor the citizens. And it will get worse."

A growing sense of concern is creeping into Turkish society because of surveillance activities. With the campaign against government critics, any new development involving surveillance technology seems likely to be watched with suspicion.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

visible – adj. of or relating to something that can be seen

credit card – n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things

surveillance – n. keeping close watch over someone

panic – n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally

witch hunt – n. the act of punishing people who are accused of having dangerous or evil ideas

introduce – v. to offer or propose

monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

creep – v. to appear gradually and in a way that is difficult to notice

1 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

5 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。