Freethought & Rationalism Archive

WinAce · 07-01-2003, 05:44 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...rban_cameras_9

Quote:

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon (news - web sites) is developing an urban surveillance system that would use computers and thousands of cameras to track, record and analyze the movement of every vehicle in a foreign city.

Police, scientists and privacy experts say the unclassified technology could easily be adapted to spy on Americans.

The project's centerpiece is groundbreaking computer software that is capable of automatically identifying vehicles by size, color, shape and license tag, or drivers and passengers by face.

According to interviews and contracting documents, the software may also provide instant alerts after detecting a vehicle with a license plate on a watchlist, or search months of records to locate and compare vehicles spotted near terrorist activities.

I'm amazed it didn't happen sooner and simultaneously appaled it's happening in my generation.

Loren Pechtel · 07-01-2003, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WinAce
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...rban_cameras_9

I'm amazed it didn't happen sooner and simultaneously appaled it's happening in my generation.

It couldn't happen earlier--we are only reaching the point where the needed computer power isn't insanely expensive.

Since we are reaching the point where it's economic it's one of those things that was bound to happen.

Note, however, that their claims are a bit bogus--facial recognition isn't up to it yet. Even without adding a car to the matter facial recognition is only reliable with correctly posed shots. (It is reliable in that situation, though--there's a bank that I've forgotten where that will let you walk up to the ATM and draw out money without a card. You do have to look at the camera lens, though.

jman0904 · 07-01-2003, 06:31 PM

I reiterate:
We have got to get out of this country and off of this planet.

Koyaanisqatsi · 07-01-2003, 11:34 PM

Why, jman? You'd be far easier to track that way

variable · 07-02-2003, 12:29 AM

personally, i wish more and more of these non-representative, big-brother-esque government initiatives would be handed down to people... i'm looking forward to the tea party.

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07-01-2003, 06:31 PM	#3
jman0904 Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oregon, the new Least Religious State in America Posts: 453	I reiterate: We have got to get out of this country and off of this planet.

07-01-2003, 11:34 PM	#4
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	Why, jman? You'd be far easier to track that way

07-02-2003, 12:29 AM	#5
variable Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: canada Posts: 54	personally, i wish more and more of these non-representative, big-brother-esque government initiatives would be handed down to people... i'm looking forward to the tea party.

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