Category: surveillance

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Detecting Shoplifting Behavior

Posted on By infossl
artificialintelligence, behavioraldetection, privacy, Security technology, surveillance, theft

This system claims to detect suspicious behavior that indicates shoplifting: Vaak, a Japanese startup, has developed artificial intelligence software that hunts for potential shoplifters, using footage from security cameras for fidgeting, restlessness and other potentially suspicious body language. The article has no detail or analysis, so we don’t know how well it works. But this … Read More “Detecting Shoplifting Behavior” »

The Latest in Creepy Spyware

Posted on By infossl
airtravel, alarms, google, internetofthings, privacy, Security technology, spyware, surveillance

The Nest home alarm system shipped with a secret microphone, which — according to the company — was only an accidental secret: On Tuesday, a Google spokesperson told Business Insider the company had made an “error.” “The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs,” … Read More “The Latest in Creepy Spyware” »

How Surveillance Inhibits Freedom of Expression

Posted on By infossl
censorship, china, privacy, Security technology, socialmedia, surveillance

In my book Data and Goliath, I write about the value of privacy. I talk about how it is essential for political liberty and justice, and for commercial fairness and equality. I talk about how it increases personal freedom and individual autonomy, and how the lack of it makes us all less secure. But this … Read More “How Surveillance Inhibits Freedom of Expression” »

The PCLOB Needs a Director

Posted on By infossl
nsa, privacy, Security technology, surveillance

The US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is looking for a director. Among other things, this board has some oversight role over the NSA. More precisely, it can examine what any executive-branch agency is doing about counterterrorism. So it can examine the program of TSA watchlists, NSA anti-terrorism surveillance, and FBI counterterrorism activities. The … Read More “The PCLOB Needs a Director” »

Israeli Surveillance Gear

Posted on By infossl
israel, Security technology, surveillance

The Israeli Defense Force mounted a botched raid in Gaza. They were attempting to install surveillance gear, which they ended up leaving behind. (There are photos — scroll past the video.) Israeli media is claiming that the capture of this gear by Hamas causes major damage to Israeli electronic surveillance capabilities. The Israelis themselves destroyed … Read More “Israeli Surveillance Gear” »

Are the Police Using Smart-Home IoT Devices to Spy on People?

Posted on By infossl
datacollection, internetofthings, police, privacy, Security technology, surveillance

IoT devices are surveillance devices, and manufacturers generally use them to collect data on their customers. Surveillance is still the business model of the Internet, and this data is used against the customers’ interests: either by the device manufacturer or by some third party the manufacturer sells the data to. Of course, this data can … Read More “Are the Police Using Smart-Home IoT Devices to Spy on People?” »

Another Bloomberg Story about Supply-Chain Hardware Attacks from China

Posted on By infossl
china, hacking, hardware, implants, Security technology, surveillance

Bloomberg has another story about hardware surveillance implants in equipment made in China. This implant is different from the one Bloomberg reported on last week. That story has been denied by pretty much everyone else, but Bloomberg is sticking by its story and its sources. (I linked to other commentary and analysis here.) Again, I … Read More “Another Bloomberg Story about Supply-Chain Hardware Attacks from China” »

Five-Eyes Intelligence Services Choose Surveillance Over Security

Posted on By infossl
backdoors, eavesdropping, intelligence, nationalsecuritypolicy, privacy, Security technology, securitypolicies, surveillance

The Five Eyes — the intelligence consortium of the rich English-speaking countries (the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) — have issued a “Statement of Principles on Access to Evidence and Encryption” where they claim their needs for surveillance outweigh everyone’s needs for security and privacy. …the increasing use and sophistication of certain … Read More “Five-Eyes Intelligence Services Choose Surveillance Over Security” »

Google Tracks its Users Even if They Opt-Out of Tracking

Posted on By infossl
android, google, phones, privacy, Security technology, surveillance, tracking

Google is tracking you, even if you turn off tracking: Google says that will prevent the company from remembering where you’ve been. Google’s support page on the subject states: “You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.” That isn’t true. Even with … Read More “Google Tracks its Users Even if They Opt-Out of Tracking” »