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20/20
Air Date: Friday, February 04, 2005
Time Slot: 10:00 PM-11:00 PM EST on ABC
Episode Title: "N/A"
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

"CAUGHT ON TAPE": A SPECIAL "20/20" HOUR EXPLORES HOW THE PROLIFERATION OF CAMERAS IN OUR SOCIETY HAS IMPACTED OUR LIVES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 ON ABC

This week a special hour of "20/20" takes an in-depth look at the many ways the proliferation of cameras in our society -- and around the world -- has changed our everyday lives. "20/20" airs FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 (10:00 - 11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

* John Stossel examines the government's use of cameras and camera abuses by ordinary citizens. Three young women in Austin, Texas, never thought they would have to worry about cameras in their gym locker room. But they didn't know that the manager of their club had placed cameras all over the locker room and recorded hundreds of women undressing everyday. The manger got caught because he was also recording himself having sex with a married woman. She found out and reported him to the police. But the manager isn't alone -- many people have recorded themselves in the act of breaking the law or preparing to break the law - including some of the more high-profile crimes in recent times.

* Elizabeth Vargas reports on how terrorists are recording themselves committing the most horrific of acts -- bombings, killings, beheadings -- all for propaganda purposes. The father of the first American beheading victim in Iraq explains to "20/20" why he believes that these images are actually important for the world to see.

* How do we know that what we see caught on tape is real? Jim Avila talks to the two young men who faked a beheading tape and put it on the internet, as well as another who creates false internet films - all in the name of art, he claims. Avila reports that there are some people who will go as far as to fake blooper footage. The experts at "America's Funniest Home Videos" weigh in on this new trend.

* Chris Conolly explores the wide-spread phenomenon of people deliberately videotaping themselves having sex. There are those who've been horrified when these intimate videos have gone public, and others who were quite proud. In fact, there's a whole cottage industry of people who record themselves and sell the tapes for viewing on the internet. Conolly talks with one man who has created a successful business by collecting these racy tapes.

* ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross reflects on the many ways he has used cameras to catch people doing wrong over the years, and how valuable a tool the camera can be in setting the record straight.

* And Bob Brown explores some of the best and worst moments -- since cameras have been recording images -- caught on tape.

"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and John Stossel. David Sloan is executive producer.

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