The Surveillance Camera Man meme originates from a series of viral videos uploaded by an anonymous individual who walked around filming strangers in silence to provoke reactions. The awkward tension and the protagonist’s deadpan response, 'I'm just taking a video,' when confronted, became the core of the meme. It represents a specific type of social intrusion or the feeling of being observed in a public space without consent. Online, the template is frequently used to describe feelings of being watched, awkward social interactions, or to highlight someone acting strangely in public while being recorded.