The emergence of powerful video surveillance technologies is already providing law enforcement with invaluable new tools for battling crime and terrorism. However, these technologies must be designed and used not only to protect Americans against crime and terrorism, but in ways that preserve accountability, procedural safeguards, and constitutionally protected rights. The principles developed by the Constitution Project on guidelines for public video surveillance provide a useful framework for protecting core constitutional freedoms and social values in a world of technologically-assisted law enforcement and serious threats posed to public safety. Outlined under the guidelines for public video surveillance are the core principles that should be considered throughout the lifecycle of a public video surveillance system. Guidelines for creating and designing a public video surveillance systems include a detailed, participatory, and transparent process and a streamlined process, and the rules and procedures designed to ensure that the system is used in accordance with core substantive principles and the different functions which video surveillance systems may perform. The Constitution Project’s Liberty and Security Initiative has formulated these guidelines to assist in balancing the need to protect our core constitutional rights and values and understand the value of modern video surveillance. 73 endnotes