Academic Journal Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Academic Journal - Article Example On the other hand, the US Commercial Services identifies Saudi Arabia as the country with the fastest growing market in terms of security equipment and technology, especially surveillance cameras, consequently accounting for 12% of the world’s security equipments sales (qtd. in Alhadar and McCahill 317). With a look into the operations of surveillance camera system in Crescent Mall in Riyadh, this article addresses fundamental questions arising from the use of this technology in Riyadh and largely in Saudi Arabia. As noted by Marx, current surveillance â€Å"monitors not individual suspects, but geographical places, time periods and entire categories of persons† (qtd. in Alhadar and McCahill 325). However, this new surveillance takes a different perspective once religion and social morals take centre stage as proved Crescent Mall in Riyadh. In this regard, the main target of surveillance becomes men suspected of courting women instead of drug users and other social deviants in a western-like surveillance set-up. In addition, there is a theocratic approach when the surveillance targets those who do not attend prayers. Cultural norms and traditions shaped the response of the security systems in the mall. Case in point, a patrol security officer once directed by the surveillance operator to two elderly women sitting on the floor failed to take action on them since as Alhadar and McCahill noted, â€Å"Saudi cultural norms dictate that elderly people should be treated with respect and consideration† (322). In this case, traditional beliefs played an integral role regarding carrying out of surveillance. On the other hand, the attitudes of the observers played a crucial role in monitoring visitors at the mall especially the women who wore veils. The attitudes are of crucial importance since wearing veils did not prevent women from talking and interacting with men who were not their kin as the Saudi traditions and values