Difference between revisions of "Mass surveillance/Technology"

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'''[[Technologies]] of [[mass surveillance]]''' have been proliferating increasingly quickly since [[9/11]]. A major driver has been the large (and often unaccountable) budgets associated with the "[[war on terror]]". Another factor is the 'critical mass' of [[technologies]] combined with increased facility of communication offered by the internet.
  
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===Aerial Surveillance===
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{{SMWQ
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|text=The reach of these technologies is astonishingly broad: governments can listen in on cell phone calls, use voice recognition to scan mobile networks, read emails and text messages, censor web pages, track a citizen’s every movement using GPS, and can even change email contents while en route to a recipient. Some tools are installed using the same type of malicious malware and spyware used by online criminals to steal credit card and banking information. They can secretly turn on webcams built into personal laptops and microphones in cell phones not being used. And all of this information is filtered and organized on such a massive scale that it can be used to spy on every person in an entire country.
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|source_name=EFF
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|source_URL=https://www.eff.org/issues/mass-surveillance-technologies
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|date=2017
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}}
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==Legal status==
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BAE has secretly sold mass surveillance technology to Middle Eastern governments criticised for repressing their populations.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/15/bae-mass-surveillance-technology-repressive-regimes</ref> Traditional concerns about [[civil liberties]] are ''de facto'' more or less irrelevant to a commercial environment such as the US in which post-hoc sweeping immunity from prosecution is no longer an exceptional event. In 2013 [[Frank La Rue]], U.N. special envoy on free expression, expressed major concerns about new surveillance tools designed to “track and record Internet and telephone communications on a national scale.”<ref>http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/06/05/mass_surveillance_tools_u_n_report_slams_governments_use_of_monitoring_technologies.html</ref>
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==Physical surveillance==
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===Streetside===
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[[image:NY_2017_new_metal_towers.jpg|left|thumbnail|440px|One of the 18 structures that popped up in [[New York]], at a reported cost of $100M, containing an unknown array of [[DoHS]] equipment]]
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In [[New York]], the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began building a set of 18 metal towers at the ends of tunnels and bridges. MTA chairman [[Joe Lhota]] said the towers included "fiber optics necessary for those Homeland Security items" but declined to elaborate further.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4930112/MTA-fire-spending-100M-mystery-metal-towers.html</ref> In [[San Diego]], streetlights are being equipped with video cameras, microphones and other sensors.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge-sandiego-idUSKBN1611YU</ref>
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===X-Ray Vans===
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[[image:X-ray-van.jpg|thumbnail|400px|The Z Backscatter Van can scan while driving alongside a line of vehicles or while parked as they pass by. (American Science and Engineering Inc.)]]
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In 2015 a US judge required that more details be published about the unmarked vans with which [[NYPD]] uses X-Rays to carry out surveillance on citizens.<ref>http://www.propublica.org/article/judge-orders-nypd-to-release-records-on-x-ray-vans</ref>
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 +
===Aerial===
 
In December 2014 it was announced that Italian Reaper UAVs are to be used to monitor soccer games and demonstrations in Italy’s cities, following a deal struck between the Italian Air Force and the country’s police forces.<ref>http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2014/12/17/italian-reaper-drones-to-be-used-for-crowd-monitoring/20528495/</ref>
 
In December 2014 it was announced that Italian Reaper UAVs are to be used to monitor soccer games and demonstrations in Italy’s cities, following a deal struck between the Italian Air Force and the country’s police forces.<ref>http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2014/12/17/italian-reaper-drones-to-be-used-for-crowd-monitoring/20528495/</ref>
  
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===Hand Held Radar===
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===Hand Held===
 
In January 2015, it was first reported that since 2012 the [[United States Marshals Service]] has been using hand held radars which can "see through walls". Originally developed for use in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]], they are sensitive enough to detect human breathing within 50 feet.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/01/19/police-radar-see-through-walls/22007615/</ref>
 
In January 2015, it was first reported that since 2012 the [[United States Marshals Service]] has been using hand held radars which can "see through walls". Originally developed for use in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]], they are sensitive enough to detect human breathing within 50 feet.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/01/19/police-radar-see-through-walls/22007615/</ref>
  
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===Cellphone Surveillance Tools===
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==Electronic surveillance==
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===Cellphones===
 
Termed by the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] "an unconstitutional, all-you-can-eat data buffet"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/02/secretive-stingray-surveillance-tool-becomes-more-pervasive-questions-over-its|title=As Secretive "Stingray" Surveillance Tool Becomes More Pervasive, Questions Over Its Illegality Increase|last=Timm|first=Trevor|work=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|date=2013-02-12|accessdate=2014-06-23}}</ref> Stingray phone trackers are [[IMSI-catcher]]s (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), a cellular phone surveillance device, manufactured by the [[Harris Corporation]]. Used since at least 2006, their use became public knowledge around 2012. They allow collection of data stored on phones, listening in on calls, blocking calls and [[man-in-the-middle attack]]s to capture all data.
 
Termed by the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] "an unconstitutional, all-you-can-eat data buffet"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/02/secretive-stingray-surveillance-tool-becomes-more-pervasive-questions-over-its|title=As Secretive "Stingray" Surveillance Tool Becomes More Pervasive, Questions Over Its Illegality Increase|last=Timm|first=Trevor|work=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|date=2013-02-12|accessdate=2014-06-23}}</ref> Stingray phone trackers are [[IMSI-catcher]]s (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), a cellular phone surveillance device, manufactured by the [[Harris Corporation]]. Used since at least 2006, their use became public knowledge around 2012. They allow collection of data stored on phones, listening in on calls, blocking calls and [[man-in-the-middle attack]]s to capture all data.
  
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===X-Ray Vans===
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==Software==
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[[image:X-ray-van.jpg|thumbnail|400px|The Z Backscatter Van can scan while driving alongside a line of vehicles or while parked as they pass by. (American Science and Engineering Inc.)]]
 
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In 2015 a US judge required that more details be published about the unmarked vans with which [[NYPD]] uses X-Rays to carry out surveillance on citizens.<ref>http://www.propublica.org/article/judge-orders-nypd-to-release-records-on-x-ray-vans</ref>
 
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===Licence Plate Readers===
 
===Licence Plate Readers===
 
In January 2015, it was first reported that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] had initiated a massive nation wide scheme to coordinate automated collection of car license plates, coordinating DEA-owned automatic license plate readers with readers controlled by the [[Customs and Border Patrol]] and other agencies of the [[US government]]. Documents released under [[FOIA]] note that the aims are "to identify travel patterns" but the primary aim is "[[civil asset forfeiture]]." A slideshow released under [[FOIA]] suggested that the database had over 343 million records.<ref>https://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-criminal-law-reform/foia-documents-reveal-massive-dea-program-record-ame</ref> In 2014 the [[LAPD]] argued in a US court that all license plate data was required to aid in ongoing investigations.
 
In January 2015, it was first reported that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] had initiated a massive nation wide scheme to coordinate automated collection of car license plates, coordinating DEA-owned automatic license plate readers with readers controlled by the [[Customs and Border Patrol]] and other agencies of the [[US government]]. Documents released under [[FOIA]] note that the aims are "to identify travel patterns" but the primary aim is "[[civil asset forfeiture]]." A slideshow released under [[FOIA]] suggested that the database had over 343 million records.<ref>https://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-criminal-law-reform/foia-documents-reveal-massive-dea-program-record-ame</ref> In 2014 the [[LAPD]] argued in a US court that all license plate data was required to aid in ongoing investigations.
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===Facial Recognition===
 
===Facial Recognition===
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This used to require a lot of computing power, but software and hardware improvements, together with greater databases have been making it increasingly effective.
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This used to require a lot of computing power, but software and hardware improvements, together with greater databases have been making it increasingly fast, reliable and effective. A 2017 story was entitled "Indiscriminate Mass Surveillance Capabilities are Growing at a Shocking Speed".<ref>https://www.technologies.org/?tag=mass-surveillance-technology</ref>
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====UK====
 
====UK====
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The [[TSA]] has reportedly been developing systems to analyse moods and emotions based on facial microgestures, while in the UK 'walk signatures' are computer analysed.<ref>http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/01/29/revealed-the-tsas-new-computerized-facial-and-emotional-recognition-system/</ref> The [[FBI]] is building on its database of 100 million individual records and expects to have 52 million facial images by 2015.<ref>https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/04/fbi-plans-have-52-million-photos-its-ngi-face-recognition-database-next-year</reF>
 
The [[TSA]] has reportedly been developing systems to analyse moods and emotions based on facial microgestures, while in the UK 'walk signatures' are computer analysed.<ref>http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/01/29/revealed-the-tsas-new-computerized-facial-and-emotional-recognition-system/</ref> The [[FBI]] is building on its database of 100 million individual records and expects to have 52 million facial images by 2015.<ref>https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/04/fbi-plans-have-52-million-photos-its-ngi-face-recognition-database-next-year</reF>
  
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===Electronic tagging===
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==Electronic tagging==
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In 2017, [[Heiko Maas]] suggested Electronic tagging should be carried out under the "[[war on terror]]" pretext on those whom the German government deemed to be a "general threat".<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/09/terror-suspects-could-forced-wear-electronic-tags-radical-proposal/</ref>
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In 2017, [[Heiko Maas]] suggested Electronic tagging should be carried out under the "[[war on terror]]" pretext on anyone whom the German government deemed to be a "general threat".<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/09/terror-suspects-could-forced-wear-electronic-tags-radical-proposal/</ref>
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===Streetlights===
 
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In San Diego, streetlights are being equipped with video cameras, microphones and other sensors.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge-sandiego-idUSKBN1611YU</ref>
 
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
−
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 14:53, 1 November 2017

Concept.png Mass surveillance/TechnologyRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Typetechnology

Technologies of mass surveillance have been proliferating increasingly quickly since 9/11. A major driver has been the large (and often unaccountable) budgets associated with the "war on terror". Another factor is the 'critical mass' of technologies combined with increased facility of communication offered by the internet.

“The reach of these technologies is astonishingly broad: governments can listen in on cell phone calls, use voice recognition to scan mobile networks, read emails and text messages, censor web pages, track a citizen’s every movement using GPS, and can even change email contents while en route to a recipient. Some tools are installed using the same type of malicious malware and spyware used by online criminals to steal credit card and banking information. They can secretly turn on webcams built into personal laptops and microphones in cell phones not being used. And all of this information is filtered and organized on such a massive scale that it can be used to spy on every person in an entire country.”
 (2017)  [1]

Legal status

BAE has secretly sold mass surveillance technology to Middle Eastern governments criticised for repressing their populations.[2] Traditional concerns about civil liberties are de facto more or less irrelevant to a commercial environment such as the US in which post-hoc sweeping immunity from prosecution is no longer an exceptional event. In 2013 Frank La Rue, U.N. special envoy on free expression, expressed major concerns about new surveillance tools designed to “track and record Internet and telephone communications on a national scale.”[3]

Physical surveillance

Streetside

One of the 18 structures that popped up in New York, at a reported cost of $100M, containing an unknown array of DoHS equipment

In New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began building a set of 18 metal towers at the ends of tunnels and bridges. MTA chairman Joe Lhota said the towers included "fiber optics necessary for those Homeland Security items" but declined to elaborate further.[4] In San Diego, streetlights are being equipped with video cameras, microphones and other sensors.[5]

X-Ray Vans

The Z Backscatter Van can scan while driving alongside a line of vehicles or while parked as they pass by. (American Science and Engineering Inc.)

In 2015 a US judge required that more details be published about the unmarked vans with which NYPD uses X-Rays to carry out surveillance on citizens.[6]

Aerial

In December 2014 it was announced that Italian Reaper UAVs are to be used to monitor soccer games and demonstrations in Italy’s cities, following a deal struck between the Italian Air Force and the country’s police forces.[7]

Hand Held

In January 2015, it was first reported that since 2012 the United States Marshals Service has been using hand held radars which can "see through walls". Originally developed for use in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are sensitive enough to detect human breathing within 50 feet.[8]

Electronic surveillance

Cellphones

Termed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation "an unconstitutional, all-you-can-eat data buffet"[9] Stingray phone trackers are IMSI-catchers (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), a cellular phone surveillance device, manufactured by the Harris Corporation. Used since at least 2006, their use became public knowledge around 2012. They allow collection of data stored on phones, listening in on calls, blocking calls and man-in-the-middle attacks to capture all data.

Software

Licence Plate Readers

In January 2015, it was first reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration had initiated a massive nation wide scheme to coordinate automated collection of car license plates, coordinating DEA-owned automatic license plate readers with readers controlled by the Customs and Border Patrol and other agencies of the US government. Documents released under FOIA note that the aims are "to identify travel patterns" but the primary aim is "civil asset forfeiture." A slideshow released under FOIA suggested that the database had over 343 million records.[10] In 2014 the LAPD argued in a US court that all license plate data was required to aid in ongoing investigations.

"Taken to an extreme, the agencies’ arguments would allow law enforcement to conduct around-the-clock surveillance on every aspect of our lives and store those records indefinitely on the off-chance they may aid in solving a crime at some previously undetermined date in the future. If the court accepts their arguments, the agencies would then be able to hide all this data from the public." - EFF, 2014[11]

Facial Recognition

This used to require a lot of computing power, but software and hardware improvements, together with greater databases have been making it increasingly fast, reliable and effective. A 2017 story was entitled "Indiscriminate Mass Surveillance Capabilities are Growing at a Shocking Speed".[12]

UK

In February 2015, it was revealed that the UK Police uploaded up to 18 million "mugshots" to a facial recognition database linked to facial recognition software, which they claimed complied with the UK Data Protection Act. Such technology is already used by MI5, MI6 and Border Force.[13] In March 2015, United States Customs and Border Protection announced its use of real time facial recognition.[14]

US

The TSA has reportedly been developing systems to analyse moods and emotions based on facial microgestures, while in the UK 'walk signatures' are computer analysed.[15] The FBI is building on its database of 100 million individual records and expects to have 52 million facial images by 2015.[16]

Electronic tagging

In 2017, Heiko Maas suggested Electronic tagging should be carried out under the "war on terror" pretext on anyone whom the German government deemed to be a "general threat".[17]

 

Examples

Page nameDescription
"Vaccine passport"
Biometrics
CCTV
Digital healthcareWith less an less human doctors in the system, the goal is ultimately that most diseases will be treated automatically and with Big Pharma drugs. Opting out is not an option.
Facial recognition
Mobile phone
Next Generation IdentificationThe world's largest and most efficient electronic database of individuals, created by the FBI and other US intelligence services.
SmartdustNovel technology with high surveillance potential; even as type of brain–computer interface both reading and writing.
Social credit systemA system of reward and punishment mechanisms for the government to control its citizens.
Social credit system/ChinaA system of reward and punishment mechanisms for the Chinese government to control its citizens.
The Commons ProjectThe World Economic Forum's vaccine passport enabler, providentially created in 2019.
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References

  1. ↑ https://www.eff.org/issues/mass-surveillance-technologies EFF
  2. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/15/bae-mass-surveillance-technology-repressive-regimes
  3. ↑ http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/06/05/mass_surveillance_tools_u_n_report_slams_governments_use_of_monitoring_technologies.html
  4. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4930112/MTA-fire-spending-100M-mystery-metal-towers.html
  5. ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge-sandiego-idUSKBN1611YU
  6. ↑ http://www.propublica.org/article/judge-orders-nypd-to-release-records-on-x-ray-vans
  7. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2014/12/17/italian-reaper-drones-to-be-used-for-crowd-monitoring/20528495/
  8. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/01/19/police-radar-see-through-walls/22007615/
  9. ↑ Timm, Trevor (2013-02-12). "As Secretive "Stingray" Surveillance Tool Becomes More Pervasive, Questions Over Its Illegality Increase". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved 2014-06-23.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "Scribunto").
  10. ↑ https://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-criminal-law-reform/foia-documents-reveal-massive-dea-program-record-ame
  11. ↑ https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/los-angeles-cops-argue-all-cars-la-are-under-investigation
  12. ↑ https://www.technologies.org/?tag=mass-surveillance-technology
  13. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31105678
  14. ↑ http://motherboard.vice.com/read/us-customs-quietly-launches-facial-recognition-experiment-at-dc-airport
  15. ↑ http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/01/29/revealed-the-tsas-new-computerized-facial-and-emotional-recognition-system/
  16. ↑ https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/04/fbi-plans-have-52-million-photos-its-ngi-face-recognition-database-next-year
  17. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/09/terror-suspects-could-forced-wear-electronic-tags-radical-proposal/
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