legal
Robocops Are Here. It’s Time To Create Rules On How Police Should Use Them.
Micah Xavier Johnson, the Dallas shooter, will go down in history as a domestic terrorist who killed five officers and wounded nine others. He will also go down in history as the first person killed by an armed police robot. Johnson was killed in a standoff when Dallas police sent in a remote operated Remotec bomb disposal robot that had been jury-rigged to carry a pound of C-4 plastic explosives.
How Slow-Motion Video Footage Misleads Juries
From surveillance cameras to smartphones, today’s crimes are increasingly being captured on video. But could showing slow-motion replays of crimes in court be producing harsher verdicts? This is the suggestion from a new study published in PNAS by researchers at the University of Chicago, University of San Francisco, and University of Virginia. They argue that slow motion replays can give viewers “the false impression that the actor had more time to premeditate before acting.” Participants were shown surveillance footage of either an attempted robbery in which the assailant shot the store worker, or an NFL player performing a banned tackle. Participants, who were recruited online using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing program, were shown the videos both at regular speed and in slow motion.
Thorny Legal Issues Surrounding Body Cameras: From Privacy To Public Access
More and more law enforcement agencies across the country are outfitting their officers with body-worn video cameras and report better policing and public behavior as a result. But Jim Bueermann, president of the Police Foundation, a Washington, D.C. organization that helps improve policing through research and training, said “There’s more we don’t know about the impact of body worn cameras than what we do know.” From privacy, public access, to cost.
Workplace Biometric Technology Outpacing the Law
Whether they’re clocking in to work, trying to enter a secure room or driving a company car, many workers are finding that the procedures for these everyday workplace occurrences are changing. To improve efficiency, combat fraud, and boost employee health and safety, employers increasingly are adopting biometric devices. Biometric technology analyzes the unique characteristics of a person through his or her fingerprints, irises, retinas, hand geometry, facial patterns, voice patterns or DNA information.
Privacy Rights Group Opposing FBI’s Biometric Database Wins Court Ruling
A privacy rights group concerned about the implications of the FBI’s nationwide biometric database has won a lawsuit against the FBI for the legal costs that led to the disclosure of hundreds of pages detailing the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) database, which includes biometrics such as iris scans, palm prints, and facial recognition.
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.
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.
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.
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 .]
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.
South Carolina Ramps Up Tech To Enforce School Bus Law
South Carolina is getting serious about penalizing drivers who pass a stopped school bus, writes Seanna Adcox of Associated Press. Now, a camera installed on the school bus can be used to prove that a driver has illegally passed a school bus. Before this, a policeman had to witness such an event in order to […]
On Photography, Cops Need To Get A Clue
We can’t expect privacy in public, but neither should police officers and public employees. Security cameras operated by the Department of Homeland Security are installed in front of a federal building in New York. (Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP) Last week, Buzzfeed reporter Benny Johnson went to work on a list of the seven ugliest federal […]
Is It Legal To Post Business Surveillance Video Online?
Is it legal to post business video-surveillance footage online? Many businesses employ video surveillance systems and the footage can often result in useful— or humorous— clips that somehow find their way onto YouTube, Facebook, or other websites. While it is likely legal for businesses to use security footage for the purpose of preventing theft, or […]
White Rock Pub Raises Eyebrows With Video Camera In Men’s Washroom
The security camera at the Sandpiper Pub is aimed at the sinks and hand-drying area of the men’s washroom. Bill Lawrence, co-owner of the pub and a White Rock councillor, says the camera housing is in plain view. The ceiling-mounted camera is not aimed at urinals or stalls. A camera in the men’s washroom at […]
First Ever UK Prosecution For Dangerous Driving A Drone: Man Fined £800 For Illegal Flying Of Unmanned Aircraft
Robert Knowles, 46, was found to have flown his homemade aircraft into restricted airspace over a nuclear submarine facility. Both offenses breached the UK’s Air Navigation Order. He also flew his drone, which was equipped with a video camera, too close to a vehicle bridge in an illegal maneuvers. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) […]
Washington State Moves To Outlaw All Photography From “Drones” Even In Public Places
http://www.king5.com/news/politics/C…247311131.html Two drone bills passed the House Wednesday morning and were making their way through the Senate in Olympia. One bill sets rules on how state government can deploy drones; the other bill aims to protect citizens privacy. If passed, it would be illegal to fly a drone with any recording device over a park or over your home. This bill deals with how its deployed, not saying drones are bad and should not ever be used, said Rep. Jeff Morris, (D) 40th Legislative District.. House Bill 2178 would make it illegal in Washington for drones to record any personal information in unregulated air space. The second drone bill, House Bill 2789, sets rules and restrictions how state government can deploy drones. Under the bill, law enforcement must get a warrant to use a drone for surveillance on a suspect similar to getting a wire tap. There is one exception: drones can be used for natural resource management, such as controlling wildfires. But with companies like Amazon and Netflix testing out drone deliveries, lawmakers say the bills would not prevent drone deliveries in Washington. A drone thats just delivering a package to use the Amazon example, unless theyre collecting facial recognition from you or taking random video tape, they wouldnt be impacted by the laws were talking about, said Rep. Morris, (D)- 40th Legislative District. Rep. Morris says later down the line, lawmakers will work on a commercial drone bill specifically for businesses. But for now, the two bills […]
Source www.rcgroups.com
Microsoft And Google Lead Coalition Demanding Limits On Government Surveillance
Edmond El Dabe Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2013 Leading California based law firm, El Dabe, is now offering extended legal services on its redesigned website. The improved website is inclusive of several new features like detailed informative blog posts, contact details as well as information on multiple legal practices offered by the firm. El Dabe Law Firm has become an established firm in multiple parts of California and is continually assisting clients in getting favorable results. Over the years, the firm has recovered millions of dollars in client settlements and is considered among the highest rated law firms in the state. El Dabe Law Firm is now offering its expert legal counsel in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks and Huntington Beach in various practice areas including personal injury, negligence, product liability, vehicle accidents. The firm is also offering legal assistance for clients seeking help with cases of elevator injuries, escalator accidents, chemical burns and funeral home negligence. In the past decade, the firm has been successful in closing settlements favorably for cases involving vehicle accidents, slips and falls, wrongful death, dog bites, burn injuries and defective products. A new highlight of the redesigned website is the detailed blog on Injury Law Central that covers essential details on the latest lawsuits and personal injury cases in the state of California. The website’s personal blog offers informative and detailed articles on understanding personal injury laws in the state and using the right legal counsel to get favorable settlements. The topics […]
Source www.prweb.com
Mechanicsville VA Bathroom Surveillance Cameras Under Investigation
MECHANICSVILLE, VA (WWBT) – Controversy is getting served up at Mechanicsville’s Calabash Seafood Restaurant & Midway Lounge. Owner Dennis Smith installed security cameras in the men’s bathrooms, back in September. Smith says he’s paid heavy costs for repairs after repeated bathroom vandalism. He maintains no privacy laws are being violated, since no guest’s private areas are being recorded. However, the Hanover Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the camera situation. Officers executed a search warrant. The cameras were shut off. Smith says investigators are reviewing the footage. Customer Victor Little says he was shocked to spot the cameras, while having dinner at the restaurant Saturday evening. He took cell phone video of the surveillance camera, situated on the ceiling above a stall. “I was startled… I couldn’t believe there was a camera in the men’s room,” said Little. Smith says the bathrooms have been a target of damage, during the span of the restaurant’s 34 years. Smith describes an incident in August that totaled $1,000. “I had a customer go in the men’s room and tear a urinal completely off the wall, with tile…(then the man) broke a toilet,” recounted Smith of the damage. However, the cameras have caused other problems. One man was charged for ripping out one of the cameras, back in September. He says he believed his privacy rights were being violated. The incident also prompted the Hanover Sheriff’s investigation into whether any privacy laws are being broken. NBC12 legal analyst Steve Benjamin says security cameras are […]
Source www.nbc12.com
Axis Cameras Help Secure Korean Airport Customs Workload
Source: Axis Communications | Date: 11/14/2013 Related tags: AXIS , airport management solution , X-ray scanners , airline security management Mission Gimhae Customs, located in Gangseo-gu, Busan, has jurisdiction over Gimhae International Airport, the gateway to Korea’s southwestern area which handles an average of 75 airplanes, including Korean Air and Japan Airlines, carries 9500 passengers. Gimhae Customs imports repair parts, communication devices and marine engines, small quantities of urgently needed samples and advertising items, exporting agricultural and marine products. The nature of the air cargo needs to be handled efficiently and rapidly while blocking the inflow of illegal items. Separate reading rooms are used for each of the 4 X-ray scanners without surveillance cameras caused difficulty for workforce management, with no separate monitoring system, leading to frequent disputes about lost and damaged items. To resolve these problems and proactively respond to changes in environment of the airport, Gimhae Customs introduced a suitable monitoring system to enhance surveillance competency Solution Gimhae Customs wanted a solution to minimize civil complaints and enhance speed and accuracy of monitoring and tracking, Gimhae Airport surveillance system is using Axis P5534 and Axis P3304 for capability of smoothly interfacing for more unified operations while providing high-definition video surveillance for clear and intuitive monitoring. The International Arrival Hall’s special environment and low ceiling height, a camera with ability to monitor a wide area is required for each carousel. Axis partner Darwin System used high-definition network cameras and built an effective system capable of monitoring all processes […]
Source www.asmag.com
TOTUS Outdoor Lighting Based Security Featured At Secured Cities 2013
TOTUS Solutions, the award winning leader in outdoor lighting based security platforms, will be featured during Secured Cities 2013, the premier conference in urban security for municipalities, university and healthcare campuses, and transit organizations. Austin, TX (PRWEB) November 12, 2013 TOTUS Solutions , the award winning leader in outdoor lighting based security platforms, will be featured during Secured Cities 2013, the premier conference in urban security for municipalities, university and healthcare campuses, and transit organizations. “Increased security challenges for outdoor campus applications are a growing concern for schools, universities and healthcare facilities, and public transportation. TOTUS Security Platforms™ are designed for deployment at vehicular and pedestrian entrances and exits, areas of higher traffic activity, emergency communication locations, attendant booths, bus stops and transit stations. Our unique technology extends the presence of security personnel by engaging individuals with audio messages and visual warnings. Optimized lighting, 360-degree IP video surveillance, real-time emergency communications, and quick response are the important steps in enhancing campus and public transit safety.” said Gregory G. Williams, President and CEO, TOTUS Solutions. The TOTUS Security Platforms™ combine optimized LED lighting, complete megapixel IP 360˚ video surveillance, multi-day media storage and communications in one simple, fully integrated system. These purpose-built security platforms are designed to turn video surveillance from a passive system that must be constantly monitored, to an Active Deterrence™ that takes action on its own. The actions can be any combination of lighting events, sounds, stored video, emails, or other communications means when motion is detected […]
Source www.virtual-strategy.com