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Forums  ForumsReference Desk → Why is there no video recording equipment in Star Trek? (replywatch)
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I mean...half of the mysteries in all of the shows would be solved if they had cameras installed on any ship or station. Not in private quarters, but what about the public zones? Something goes wrong in the medical bay a nobody has a clue what went on because there are no cameras.

The only explanation I could think of was that because of the peaceful nature of the Federation (and humanity in particular)in the Star Trek universe, they would be dubbed primitive and against the sort of honor system that exists then. Almost as if having surveillance would perpetuate more crime. The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.184.33.130 (talk).

They do, and we see it used all of the time, such as in "The Drumhead", when a recording of the warp core exploding is displayed, or in "Homefront", when the video of the explosion at the summit is displayed, or...
Granted, they don't seem to have a British CCTV level of surveillance, but that may be a societal choice, similar to the United States. --OuroborosCobra talk 02:34, 6 August 2009 (UTC)
There was the dilithium chamber that recorded Spock's last words perfectly from multiple angles -- and an away team member with a head-camera recording on Tarchannen III -- Geordi's very eyesight being transmitted for review voluntarily in TNG and involuntarily in Generations -- and the crew of Voyager looking like d-bag tourists walking around with a big three-dimensional recording camera on a couple of occasions.
I think the question is "when ISN'T there a video recording camera on you in Star Trek?" -- seems like never. -- Captain MKB 02:53, 6 August 2009 (UTC)
I think the better question is, if you're always being recorded, why doesn't it factor more into the plots? For example, why doesn't Odo know exactly whatever Quark is doing if he's always being recorded? Commodore Sixty-Four(talk) 13:39, January 13, 2010 (UTC)
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