Legal
Scapegoating Face Recognition Technology As Privacy Wormhole Doesn?t Solve Anything
Facial recognition technology is facing a blitz of negative media with wormhole-like theories that this technology results in mass surveillance, destroys anonymity, and will forever change the way people behave in public. Advocates of this theory are calling for federal privacy regulation that will give a face a right of privacy it has never had […]
Chicago Ordinance Would Require Videotaping Of Gun Sales
Chicago could require gun dealers to videotape sales and ban gun stores near schools and parks under Mayor Rahm Emanuel?s latest attempt to heavily regulate firearms sales following a federal court ruling that tossed out the city?s outright ban on gun sales. The plan, introduced at a recent City Council meeting, would require gun dealers […]
Will New Law Force Cruise Lines To Improve Onboard Security?
In April, U.S. Representatives Dogget (TX), Costa (CA), and Tsongas (MA) became co-sponsors of the Cruise Passenger Protection Act, a bill making its way through congress that will increase the requirements on the cruise ship industry to improve the safety and security of passengers. By Christopher Elliott, Washington Post — The remarkable thing about the […]
Federal Labour Arbitrator Rules Installation Of Video Camera Without Consent Is A Violation Of PIPEDA
On March 25, 2014, Federal Labour Arbitrator Christine Schmidt determined that the Canadian National Railway Company (“CN”) was in breach of section 5(3) of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) after it installed a video camera to monitor a bulletin board following the posting of offensive material. In Canadian National Railway […]
US DOJ: China Charged In Cyber-Spying Case
The United States has brought first-of-its kind cyber-espionage charges against five Chinese military officials accused of hacking into U.S. companies to gain trade secrets. The indictment accuses the hackers of targeting the U.S. nuclear power, metals, and solar products industries. The alleged victims are brand-name companies including Alcoa and Westinghouse. The indictment includes allegations of […]
Avigilon CEO Alexander Fernandes Answers Six Tough Questions
The tough questions began at about six in the morning, eastern time, on May 7th, just a few hours after the announcement. What does this mean? Why now? Is there more to follow? The press release was from Vancouver’s Avigilon and the news was that its CFO, Brad Bardua was leaving the company for health […]
Florida’s Biometric School Ban Passes Into Law
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has officially signed the biometric ban proposed in Florida that will prohibit schools from collecting the palm scans, iris scans or fingerprints of its students. Senator Dorothy L. Hukill (R – Port Orange) proposed Senate Bill 188, Education Data Privacy, which bans the collection of any and all biometric data in […]
Chicago Security Camera Surge Sparks Concerns Of ‘Massive Surveillance System’
Between traffic-light cameras, blue-light cameras that scan neighborhoods for violent crime, cameras on board city trains and buses —not to mention private security cameras— there are few places you can go in Chicago without being monitored. In the metropolis known as the City of Big Shoulders, it seems Big Brother really is watching. At last […]
Hide From Surveillance By Wearing A Mask Of This Artist’s Face
By Zach Sokol: There’s this really funny scene in Infinite Jest where David Foster Wallace imagines a future where video phone calls make people so self-conscious and insecure that they begin wearing masks with other peoples’ faces on them to assure themselves. While the book was written in 1996, before the public was aware of […]
FL Leaders Drafting Ordinance To Give Nightclubs New Surveillance Guidelines
Jacksonville City Councilman Jim Love is introducing plans he said will make Jacksonville’s nightclubs safer. The councilman’s goal is to curb violence in Jacksonville’s nightclubs and bars. City Councilman Love said city leaders are currently drafting an ordinance that would give clubs specific guidelines to follow for safety and security. "If you go in there […]
Bank Escapes Judgement After Destroying Video Evidence
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) challenged a SunTrust bank in Gulf Gate, Fla., for destroying surveillance video from a period of alleged sexual harassment and persuaded a district court in an April 7, 2014, decision to introduce evidence at trial about the bank?s failure to preserve the video footage. Several bank tellers?Marcia Vescio, […]
MI Defense Lawyers Must Produce Surveillance Within 28 days
Insurance defense lawyers have less than a month to produce surveillance of auto accident victims –not when it’s convenient for them There is a big problem in Michigan with insurance companies abusing discovery, and nowhere is this more prevalent than with video surveillance. The notion of insurance companies “ignoring the rules” may sound strange to […]
The New Big Brother: Your Neighbors – Households Urged To Stop Using CCTV To Film Those Living Next Door
Fears of excessive state surveillance are commonplace. But it seems the real spies could be closer to home – the neighbors. Members of the public have been urged to stop using CCTV to film those living next door after a surge in complaints. Tony Porter, the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, appealed to people’s ‘common decency’, saying […]
Digital Ally Obtains Key Admission From Utility Associates In Patent Litigation
Digital Ally, Inc. (NASDAQ: DGLY ) a leading provider of mobile digital surveillance systems for law enforcement, security, and commercial applications, announced the following developments in its litigation against Utility Associates, Inc. ("Utility"). Digital Ally initiated litigation against Utility in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas in October 2013. The lawsuit […]
Bill Gates Files Patent To Protect You From ?Glassholes?
Google opened up its new Glass product for sale to the general public for the first time recently and Bill Gates is already taking steps to protect you from the wearable tech that’s become infamous for its ability to record and eavesdrop at a tilt of the head. Even at $1,500 per device, you can […]
U.S. Congressman From Texas Introduces Bill To Protect Personal Biometric Information
Texas Congressman Steve Stockman introduced H.R. 4381, the Biometric Information Privacy Act. It would protect a consumer’s personal physiological biometric information from being passed onto third parties. Biometric data include personal identifying information such as DNA, fingerprints, retinal scans, or facial scanning, converted into binary code. “Consumers should not have to worry about third parties […]
Florida Lawmakers Send Bill To Governor To Ban Biometrics In Schools
(Editor’s Note: This is a follow-up to Florida Lawmakers To Consider Banning Biometrics In Schools) – A bill that would ban Florida school districts from using biometrics —such as iris, retina, fingerprint, and palm scans— is poised to become law. Senate Bill 188, known as the biometrics bill, is sponsored by state Sen. Dorothy L. […]
Branford CT Neighbor Dispute Centers On Property Line, Surveillance Camera
Kamran Farid, owner of the home on the right, is taking the owners of the home on the left (Bob and Michelle DiLieto) to court, alleging the couple’s fence is encroaching on his property. The common property dispute has a twist — the DiLietos are accusing Farid of illegal surveillance, arguing that the camera (mounted […]
Detroit Council Changes Gas Station Surveillance Camera Requirements After Critical Beating Of Driver
DETROIT, MI — The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring gas stations to install and strategically place digital video surveillance cameras to improve security. Councilman Andre Spivey listed a number of incidents in which higher-quality or better-configured gas station cameras would have helped police capture suspects in serious crimes. He said the severe beating […]
The Inherent Conflict Between Security And Privacy
For families, companies, and even nations, there is a struggle between security and privacy. While an individual may have some expectation of privacy or right to safeguard his or her identity, ensuring security relies on monitoring and assessing all activity on a given network or endpoint in order to determine if there is anything suspicious […]