Surveillance cameras
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly reports that mass surveillance practices are a fundamental threat to human rights, as thoroughly detailed in many reports following the extensive Edward Snowden leaks.
Continue reading… “Mass surveillance threatens human rights, says European report”
FBI is more optimistic about the benefits of driverless cars when it comes to surveillance efforts.
Self-driving cars are a “potential lethal weapon,” but could make surveillance “more effective and easier,” according to FBI claims in an internal report surfaced by the Guardian.
Continue reading… “FBI sees driverless cars as a ‘potential lethal weapon’”
Music consumers migrated to streaming music services that live in the cloud in accelerating numbers.
How does the surveillance state consolidate control? By living in “the cloud” — where all our pertinent data is stored on computer servers operated by the likes of Google and Amazon and Microsoft — becomes too seductive to avoid and too cheap not to afford.
Continue reading… “Big Brother is watching your streaming music”
A predator drone
Border patrol drones are increasingly being borrowed by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for domestic surveillance operations, newly released records show, a harbinger of what is expected to become the commonplace use of unmanned aircraft by police.
Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden has been named the 2013 Lifeboat Foundation Guardian Award winner in recognition of his quest to get the U.S. government to be transparent about the surveillance it is engaging of its citizens. It is worth noting that no government is being transparent in how it does surveillance so this issue is relevant to all countries.
Continue reading… “2013 Lifeboat Foundation Guardian Award has been given to Edward Snowden”
RSA had been paid by the NSA to set the backdoored algorithm as the default method of random number generation.
A secret $10 million deal between the NSA and the security firm RSA has resulted in RSA incorporating a flawed algorithm for generating random numbers into its products, creating a backdoor into encrypted communications.
Face-reading technology raises many questions about privacy and surveillance.
Private emotions are often revealed in tiny, fleeting facial expressions, visible only to a best friend — or to a skilled poker player. Now, computer software is using frame-by-frame video analysis to read subtle muscular changes that flash across our faces in milliseconds, signaling emotions like happiness, sadness and disgust.
Continue reading… “When algorithms grow accustomed to your face”
Beijing has long mistrusted foreign technology companies and the Snowden revelations have exacerbated those concerns.
The fallout from the U.S. spying scandal is starting to take its toll as U.S. technology companies including Cisco Systems Inc and IBM Corp are facing unprecedented difficulties selling their goods and services in China.
Continue reading… “Fallout from NSA leaks hurting U.S. tech sales in China”
A simple graphic that shows how the NSA hacked Google.
As technology races ahead, from time to time public debate and the law of the land must catch up to it. Government surveillance is one of the most important technology issues of our times. In the US, the NSA files have already had a profound impact on the perceptions of Americans about surveillance and civil liberties. Outside the US, Germany is aghast that the US and UK, NATO allies would spy on Angela Merkel and Germany. On the other hand, there is some evidence that the NSA has aided in combating Mexican drug cartels and prevented terrorism.
Continue reading… “Government mass surveillance will create a surge of technology spending”
NSA
During the last presidential election, did the Obama Administration ever spy on Mitt Romney? The question was raised by Alex Tabarrok at the popular economics blog Marginal Revolution and he acknowledges that it is provocative. Until recently, he would’ve regarded it as a “loony” question, he writes, and he doesn’t think that President Obama ordered the NSA to spy on Romney for political gain.
Continue reading… “Does the NSA put U.S. elections at risk of manipulation?”
The surveillance technology is so small it can fit in a rock.
Lockheed Martin showcased developments in their surveillance technology called SPAN (Self-Powered Ad-hoc Network) at the annual AUSA Army meeting in Washington, D.C. last week. SPAN, a “covert, perpetually self-powered wireless sensor network” that can provide “unobtrusive, continuous surveillance” in units so small they can fit in a rock.
Continue reading… “Lockheed Martin’s SPAN spy rock could be the military’s new secret weapon”
Deer Trail will vote on October 8th on whether to issue permits to hunt drones.
The tiny plains town of Deer Trail, Colorado doesn’t have much to offer visitors. The town has a gas station, a bar and a small-time rodeo one weekend a year. But it is considering a proposal to make itself a national attraction for gun enthusiasts and people skeptical of government surveillance. Citizens of Deer Trail will vote on Oct. 8 on whether to issue permits to hunt drones.
Continue reading… “Deer Trail, Colorado may issue licenses to shoot down drones”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.