government
Eye-in-the-Sky Blimp Boosts Singapore’s Spying Ability
An unmanned helium-filled balloon the length of an Olympic-size pool will be held down by fortified ropes to float 600 meters (2,000 feet) above ground – more than twice the height of Singapore’s tallest building, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement on its website.
XTec Adds Over 100 Federal Agencies for HSPD-12 Smart Card Issuance
XTec Incorporated today announced that it was awarded the HSPD-12 Shared Service Provider contract by the General Services Administration. The award is to support the GSA Managed Service Office (MSO) that provides HSPD-12 credential enrollment, issuance, and management for more than 100 federal agencies under the USAccess program.
Biometrics Institute Proposes Biometric Trust Mark
The Biometrics Institute has unveiled its proposals for a ‘trust mark’ system to boost consumer and public confidence in systems using biometric technology. The Institute made its announcement at this week’s Biometrics 2014 conference in London. According to the Institute early support for the scheme has been received by a major US as well as several Australian government agencies – including Australia’s largest welfare provider.
Auckland New Zealand Selects HP to Drive Groundbreaking Future Cities Initiative
Auckland Transport, Auckland’s government agency responsible for all of its transportation infrastructure and services, will deploy video analytics powered by HP IDOL on servers and storage from HP Enterprise Group and with support from HP Software Professional Services.
Sharjah UAE to Deploy 5,000 ‘High-Tech’ Security Cameras
Sharjah City in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to install 5,000 advanced security cameras on its roads and public places in a bid to curb crime and improve security, its police chief said. The cameras would be deployed on roads and near schools, hotels, and public parks, at government offices and vital installations, public utilities and other places, Humaid Al Hadidi said, quoted by Emarat Al Youm Arabic language daily.
Kyrgyzstan To Register Citizens’ Biometrics
The President of Kyrgyzstan has signed into law a plan to register the biometrics of all Kyrgyz Republic citizens over the age of 16 by August 2015. The project will see the formation of the Unified State Population Registry (EGRN). The law was passed by the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan on 30 June 2014, and signed […]
India To Identify All Citizens In Three Years, Issue New Biometrics Card
India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave government officials a three-year deadline to identify citizens through the National Population Register (NPR). The NPR is a comprehensive identity database used for India’s census. Recently, the NPR was conferred as India’s favored national identification scheme by the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. During recent national elections, the […]
Top 4 Ways US Gov’t Acting Unconstitutional On 4th Amendment
Editorial By Peter Van Buren. The views expressed below are those of Mr. Peter Van Buren. Leave us your comments below. Here’s a bit of history from another America: the Bill of Rights was designed to protect the people from their government. If the First Amendment’s right to speak out publicly was the people’s wall […]
U.S. House Of Reps Votes To Ban Purchase Of License-Plate Cameras
Moving to protect privacy amidst increased public fear about government surveillance, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to ban certain federal agencies from purchasing cameras that capture images of license plates. The measure passed, 254-172, as an amendment to the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development funding bill under consideration on the House floor. […]
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 […]
Louroe Electronics Participates In 2014 Trade Winds Mission – The Americas
Louroe Electronics, industry leader in audio security, announced their involvement in the 2014 Trade Winds: The Americas initiative, a business development conference and trade mission taking place in Central and South America from May 15 – May 23. The program allows American businesses to expand trade with their counterparts in Colombia, Panama, Chile, Ecuador, and […]
Global Government Biometric Systems Market 2014-2024
Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalog: The Global Government Biometric Systems Market 2014-2024. This report is the result of SDI’s extensive market and company research covering the global biometric systems industry. It provides detailed analysis of both historic and forecast global industry values, factors influencing demand, the challenges […]
Kenya’s Biometric Registration Campaign Sparks Concerns Over Transparency
Nairobi, Kenya — As part of its ongoing efforts to improve security, the Kenyan government announced plans to register and collect biometric data on all citizens age 12 and older by the end of 2014. But not everyone thinks the ambitious plan is achievable or transparent in its objectives. Deputy President William Ruto announced the […]
Vimicro International Signs Agreement On SVAC-Compliant Chips With First Research Institute Of The Ministry Of Public Security
China’s Vimicro International Corporation (NASDAQ: VIMC), a leading video processing IC and surveillance solution provider, announced that the company signed an agreement regarding SVAC-compliant (Surveillance Video and Audio Coding) chips with the First Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security. The signing ceremony was attended by Party Secretary Mr. Wang Gang, Director Mr. Qiu […]
CaughtOnCamera: Moment Armed Men Seize Crimea Government Building
Security camera footage shows the moment armed men seize part of the parliament building in Ukraine’s Crimea region Thursday. The video shows heavily-armed men, dressed in full body armor entering th
Source www.boston.com
DHS Awards XTec Contested $103 Million Biometric ID Contract
The Homeland Security Department has switched vendors for a deal inked last September to update an employee badge system with advanced biometric verification features, such as face and iris scans, officials announced late Friday. DHS originally awarded the $102 million contract to HP Enterprise Services on Sept. 27, 2013, but in November the department notified the Government Accountability Office that it was reevaluating the award after XTec, which had previously provided software for the project, argued that "the agency did not reasonably evaluate proposals," Ralph White, GAO managing associate general counsel, told Nextgov last month in an email. The value of the new contract, over an anticipated 10-year timeline, will remain the same, Homeland Security officials say. DHS awarded the new contract to XTec Inc., on Feb. 28, officials said in a filing on FedBizOps.gov, a website for federal business opportunities. Homeland Security last month temporarily extended XTec’s expiring contract for one year while reassessing technologies proposed by XTec, HP and other technology firms. In recent years, GAO attorneys had twice dismissed challenges to contracts brought by XTec. In November 2011, the credentialing firm was unsuccessful in contesting an award to Secure Mission Solutions for a Secret Service access control and visitor management system. Later that month, XTec lost a protest against an order for HP technology to support a General Services Administration system that issued and maintained ID cards for employees governmentwide. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the government required that all federal employees carry biometric ID badges […]
Source www.nextgov.com
Idaho Biometric Protection Bill To Get Full Debate
Biometric protection bill to get full debate BOISE — Businesses that collect and use hair samples, finger prints and retina scans to identify their customers could face tough sanctions for inappropriately handling such material, under a measure headed to the Idaho House. The State Affairs Committee Tuesday morning approved new privacy standards for full debate. Republican Rep. Ed Morse of Hayden Lake fears technological advances in collecting biometric information have outstripped laws governing how that information can be used. Morse says his bill, which carries with it fines of $1,000 for abusing biometric data including selling it without permission, helps "level the playing field." Though garbage companies collect trash with traces of DNA, the bill leaves them alone. And though this measure deals with the private sector, Morse says governments’ collection of data remains "fertile ground" for future regulation. Print
Source www.ktvb.com
Judge Deals Blow To NSA Phone Data Program
HC-130J aircraft In May 2013, a P-3 Orion patrol aircraft of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cued the CGC Bertholf to a target several hundred miles off Costa Rica in the eastern Pacific. The national security cutter (NSC) launched a ScanEagle unmanned aircraft that maintained streaming video surveillance on the target and followed up with an armed MH-65D Dolphin multi-mission cutter helicopter. The arrest ultimately made by the crew of a long range interceptor cutterboat netted 1,250 pounds of cocaine and a half-dozen smuggling suspects. It also illustrated the seamless integration of air and sea assets for homeland defense. Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vice Adm. John P. Currier subsequently told Congress, “This is exactly how the system should work, and we’re very gratified to see this. The level of interoperability was simply not available with our legacy assets. It demonstrates how we apply these updated capabilities to defeat the threats in the offshore environment – and I would underscore the offshore environment is our area of greatest risk.” The Coast Guard is the maritime arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) , and Coast Guard aviation is essential to the layered security measures meant to deter, detect, interdict, and neutralize maritime threats before they reach American shores. In June, the crew of an HC-144A Ocean Sentry , a medium range surveillance aircraft (MRSA) used their sensors to spot a go-fast smuggling boat south of Puerto Rico. U.S. and Dutch vessels seized the smuggler suspects, and Ocean […]
Source www.defensemedianetwork.com
Department Of Commerce Mulls Privacy Protections For Commercial Use Of Facial Recognition Technology
Published on 10 Dec, 2013 COMPRO Technology Inc., a leading provider of innovative video surveillance solutions, recently launched the HD Pan-Tilt-Zoom cloud network camera TN920W to the market. TN920W offers 2MP HD high quality video imaging, up to 1600×1200 resolutions. It also features 10x digital zoom, 340° pan and 100° tilt and adopting Japan design motor with fast and precise performance. In addition, TN920W supports latest cloud technology and super easy QR code installation. It is an ideal choice for homes, offices, warehouses, restaurants and hotel lobbies. TN920W not only offers unsurpassed image quality but also wide-coverage monitoring. The megapixel resolution and 75° diagonal view angle allow TN920W to capture video from a wide area, effectively reducing the number of cameras required. On top of that, TN920W features a unique design of professional-grade Mechanical IR Cut and IR LEDs for 24/7 surveillance under any kind of lighting condition. When it comes to low-light conditions, the 12 built-in IR LEDs will be switched to additional infrared light that can capture clear images even in complete darkness. As with all TN product series, TN920W is comes with free C4Home cloud app featuring 2-way audio communication, pan/tilt control on mobile phone, preset points setup, Dropbox cloud storage, motion/audio detection, audio alarm and push notification with snapshot, and share video to others. Meanwhile, with the latest version app, you can enjoy new functions as: PTZ and two-way audio controls are now possible for shared accounts Configurable sharing options for the camera owner Support […]
Source www.sourcesecurity.com
Surveon 3-Megapixel HD Cameras Secure Southern Taiwan City
Source: Surveon | Date: 11/08/2013 Related tags: Surveon , NVR , WDR To ensure the protection of citizens, city surveillance is the most direct and productive method for any government. However, due to a large geographic coverage with thousands of cameras, the installation, integration, stability and reliability issues are very difficult to overcome. Surveon has completed a professional project with 3,000 IP camera installations and fulfilled requirements of high stability, reliability and an extremely low rate on the return merchandise authorization(RMA). Customer A major city in Southern Taiwan planned to upgrade its inner city surveillance system to provide safety and security for its population of 2.8 million in 38 districts. The project would include upgrading to megapixel solutions that can be fully integrated with the control center, branches, sub-station junctions and the existing IT infrastructure. CHALLENGES High Reliability To maintain a project with 3,000 cameras spreading across the city is not an easy task; any RMA is costly for the SI and inconvenience for the customer. Especially many cameras are installed in the intersections and at higher points, it time-consuming and more resources required to evaluate the situation and conduct the repairs. Wide Monitoring Area The widely distributed network areas, scalable architecture and maintenance issues were the challenges the SI first faced in this project. Environmental factors such as heat, humidity, and temperature changes were also obstacles to overcome. Complex Lighting Conditions Every corner is required to be monitored at all times to protect people, prevent potential security threats […]
Source www.asmag.com