Legal
Natural Security Alliance Unveils New Privacy Rules Around Biometric Security
According to its announcement, the Natural Security Alliance’s new Privacy Rules help biometric authentication systems dictate an organization’s obligations when collecting and handling personal data. Essentially the new Privacy Rules helps ensure that biometric data is secure and confidential, minimizing the risk of misuse, and that the data subject (ie. the person whose data is stored) has consented to the data collection and that they have some control over their data and its use.
U.S. Court Rules That Phone Passcodes Are Protected by the 5th Amendment, but Fingerprints Aren?t
A Circuit Court judge in Virginia has ruled that fingerprints are not protected by the Fifth Amendment, a decision that has clear privacy implications for fingerprint-protected devices like newer iPhones and iPads. According to Judge Steven C. Fucci, while a criminal defendant can’t be compelled to hand over a passcode to police officers for the purpose of unlocking a cellular device, law enforcement officials can compel a defendant to give up a fingerprint.
Brockton MA Bars Upgrade Surveillance
As of Saturday, if you walked or drove past a bar in Brockton, MA, there is a good chance you were being watched. As of Saturday, all Brockton restaurants, bars, and clubs that serve alcohol after midnight were required by the city to have a video surveillance system installed. The License Commission approved Mayor Bill Carpenter’s proposal in July. The initiative is aimed at helping combat violent crime in the city.
State Lawmakers Continue to Place Restrictions on Biometrics in Schools
Several U.S. states have implemented bans or restrictions on the use of biometric technologies in schools as concerns over student privacy have increased in response to recent breaches of government and commercial databases, according to a report by The PEW Charitable Trusts. Earlier this year, Florida became the first state in the nation to ban the use of biometric identification in its schools.
Expert: Prosecution of Accused Indio CA Officers a Rare Act
The case of two Indio, CA., police officers accused of misconduct in the line of duty will be a rare example of law enforcement officials facing prosecution, a court expert said. Unless there is surveillance footage, which alone doesn’t guarantee a conviction, police officers rarely go to trial for alleged crimes committed in the line of duty, said Olu Orange, director of the University of Southern California’s Dornsife Trial Advocacy Program, which educates students on the U.S. legal systems.
Could Police Drones Be an Unexpected Guest in Your Yard?
Legislation passed by the N.C. General Assembly would allow drones to take pictures of an open-invitation gathering, even if it’s on private property, without a warrant. North Carolina is figuring out the boundary between expectations of privacy and the use of surveillance drones by law enforcement agencies.
Viscount Systems Awarded U.S. Patent for Freedom Security Technology
Viscount Systems (OTCQB:VSYS), a leading provider of IT-based security software and services, announced today it has received a U.S. patent for its IP encryption bridge, which is used in the physical security system architecture of the Freedom Access Control solution.
Couple Sues Comcast After Xfinity Security System Fails
While most large incumbent ISPs have rushed head-first into the home security and home automation market, few of those companies have been willing to specify how many users have signed up for such services – suggesting they’re not yet seeing quite the uptake they’d like. One other threat has now arisen for ISPs looking to be home security experts: lawsuits.
U.S. Patent Office Questions Validity of Utility Associates? Boykin ?556 Patent and Institutes Inter Partes Review
Digital Ally, Inc. (NASDAQ: DGLY), which develops, manufactures and markets advanced video surveillance products for law enforcement, homeland security and commercial applications, announced that it has been informed that the United States Patent Office has granted its request to examine the validity of certain claims of United States Patent No. 6,831,556 that was issued to Boykin (the "556 patent"), which is owned by Utility Associates, Inc.
Vivint Protects Its Intellectual Property With Intellectual Ventures Partnership
With Vivint this summer launching Vivint Sky, a new cloud-based smart home solution featuring the company’s own control panel and software, an announcement this week that Vivint has taken steps to protect its intellectual property with patents really is not surprising. Vivint has entered into a long-term partnership with Intellectual Ventures (IV), based in Bellevue, Wash., IV announced Sept. 16. The company is one of the nation’s largest patent holders in the world, according to CNNMoney.
Icontrol Networks Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits Against Zonoff and SecureNet Technologies for Infringing Home Automation Patents
"Icontrol has invested more than a decade and many millions of dollars in research and development, and this investment has generated technology that we believe is now fundamental in leading home automation and security networks," said Bob Hagerty, CEO of Icontrol Networks. "We have filed today’s actions to safeguard our investment in the backbone of Icontrol’s connected home platform. We are committed to protecting our intellectual property and the advantages it provides to our partners and customers."
MOBOTIX Prevails in Patent Dispute: USPTO Cancels Patent
MOBOTIX Corp., New York, prevailed again in a patent dispute with San Antonio, Texas-based e-Watch Inc. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted MOBOTIX Corp.?s request and determined that all claims of U.S. Pat. No. 6,970,183 challenged by MOBOTIX Corp. are not patentable.
Iowa Class Action Suit Filed Over Traffic Cameras
A class-action lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is challenging automated traffic cameras that City officials say save lives and reduce crashes. The cameras came under fire after the Iowa Department of Transportation said two Interstate 380 speed cameras —two of the most productive in the traffic enforcement program— don?t comply with state rules requiring at least 1,000 feet between a camera and speed limit change.
Chicago to Settle Police Abuse Lawsuit for $150,000
Surveillance video caught a cop abusing a handcuffed woman during a raid. – Last year, security camera footage caught a police officer slapping and verbally abusing a handcuffed, kneeling woman during the raid of a Chicago tanning salon. This week, the Chicago City Council Finance Committee approved a $150,000 settlement of a lawsuit filed by the woman against the Chicago Police Department.
NYPD Officers to Begin Wearing Body Cameras as Part of Settlement
Sixty New York City police officers will wear body cameras as part of a pilot program in the wake of a federal lawsuit [see SecurityHive’s original article here.] challenging the department’s controversial stop-and-frisk tactics and the recent death of Eric Garner during an arrest, city officials said. Police Commissioner William Bratton announced the program Thursday, saying officers in at least one precinct in each of New York City’s five boroughs will begin wearing the surveillance devices.
Ohio Attorney General Won?t Release Surveillance Video of Walmart Shooting
The events leading to the death of John Crawford III on Aug. 5 are disputed: the Beavercreek, Ohio police officers who shot Crawford claim that the young black man in Wal-Mart was waving around what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle (but was actually a BB/pellet rifle) and would not abandon the weapon when asked. An attorney for Crawford’s family claims that Crawford was talking on a cell phone and leaning on the toy gun, when the police officers shot him.
Judge Allows Video in Toledo Chop Shop Case
A video camera mounted on a telephone pole overlooking a purported central Toledo chop shop for more than four months was legal, a federal judge ruled, though investigators still should have sought a warrant before installing it. [ See the original article posted August 12 here .]
Digital Ally Receives VuLink Patent, Provides Automatic Body Cam Activation & in-Car Video System Linking
Digital Ally, Inc. (Nasdaq: DGLY), which develops, manufactures and markets advanced video surveillance products for law enforcement, homeland security and commercial applications, today announced that it has been notified by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (?USPTO?) that its initial patent (No. 8,781,292) on its VuLink™ connectivity system has been approved and will issue on July 15, 2014. The Company also announced that it has begun shipping the new product to law enforcement customers.
Can You Film Accidents Then Sell the Videos to the Drivers
[Forum Discussion:] We have a couple dozen intersections where wrecks happen about every 10 days. I can set a price based on the seriousness of the wreck and how much the person not at fault may be able to gain in a suit. Say as an example. The other day at one of these intersections a dump truck is thought to have run a red light and hit a car in which a mother and two kids were all injured. The dump truck was loaded and was trying to make a yellow light. The family injured would stand to gain a lot of money in a suit in this instance.
NYPD Urged To Step Up Body-Worn Camera Pilot After Chokehold Death
Amid accusations of excessive force and increasing civilian video of police activity, New York officers may wear cameras while on duty. Had the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner not been […]