Powerful surveillance cameras read texts

Surveillance cameras are now so powerful that they were able to zoom in on individual spectators at the Rugby World Cup and read their text messages.

Details of police monitoring used for the first time during the tournament were discussed at a privacy forum in Wellington yesterday, at which it was revealed that the average person is digitally recorded about a dozen times a day – and even more if they use email and social media frequently.

Superintendent Grant O'Fee told the forum how one incident at the Rugby World Cup "tweaked in my head" a concern about possible privacy breaches.

Camera operators who were scanning the crowd for unruly behaviour or suspicious packages chose to zoom in on a person who was texting.

"He was actually texting about the poor quality of the game of rugby. But it did occur to me that there was an issue there - had he been texting something that was of some consequence to us, there may have been privacy issues."

He confirmed later that the level of monitoring used during the World Cup would continue for all big test matches.

CCTV now operates inside many buildings, including hospitals, supermarkets, malls, and around public toilets.

There are 11 cameras in Wellington city centre, recording 24 hours a day.

In Britain, drone cameras, mobile cameras on cars and cameras on police helmets are in frequent use.

Soon, technology will exist that can pick up on raised voices, and sniffing devices will be able to detect drug residue, Stirling University lecturer William Webster told the forum.

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff said some overseas developments were amazing and she imagined there would be concern if and when that technology was implemented in New Zealand.

Civil liberties lawyer Michael Bott warned against becoming desensitised to digital surveillance.

"It's quite worrying when we, by default, move to some sort of Orwellian 1984 where the state or Big Brother watches your every move. The road to hell is paved with good intentions and we don't realise what we are giving up when we give the state the power to monitor our private lives."

Ms Shroff said that, although reading someone's text messages in public could cause concern, the legitimacy of the action depended on what it was used for.

"We need to be aware of that – that potentially texting in a public place can be caught on a CCTV camera. If the text showed the person was plotting a riot or something, then it might well be legitimate for the police to use that under the coverage of exemption for law-enforcement activities.

"But if they were to use it simply out of nosiness, that might not be exempt," she said.

Former detective Trevor Morley said the average person had nothing to fear if they were not doing anything illegal.

"The only people who need to be concerned about these advances in technology that the police are using are the people who are abusing it, or the people who are acting in an anti-social manner."

Ms Shroff added that education and awareness of surveillance tactics were crucial.

"The law can do only so much. There are many, many great uses for the technology and we just have to make sure we balance those so it doesn't become ridiculously intrusive into our lives."

YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Your Digital FootprintAn average person is digitally recorded about a dozen times a day, and more if they use email and social media frequently

There are 11 CCTV cameras throughout Wellington city centre, recording 24 hours a day

Movement can be tracked through mobile phones and computers

Work access cards can be used to track your location

CCTV operates inside many buildings, including hospitals, supermarkets, malls, and around public toilets

Any online search, online purchase, eftpos or credit card transaction, or smartcard used for car parking is recorded

Social media usage is tracked and used for marketing and advertising.

Any information put online is there forever

Some smart electricity systems track usage

- © Fairfax NZ News

Views: 5271

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Cryptocurrency on May 5, 2012 at 1:34pm
Comment by Central Scrutinizer on May 5, 2012 at 1:00pm

layer of light window tint over the screen is easier :)

ever look @ a new monitor or phone screen thru sunglasses?? its hard

Comment by DTOM on May 5, 2012 at 12:51pm

Easy, IR LEDS...

Comment by Central Scrutinizer on May 5, 2012 at 11:36am

somebody make an anti-glare overlay for those personal tracking devices displays and problem solved ;)

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

cheeki kea favorited Doc Vega's blog post The Many Keys to Deadly Secrecy in our Government
12 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
12 hours ago
cheeki kea posted a photo
13 hours ago
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"Greetings to you John, You're right and it didn't take long for those manuals to totally…"
14 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Many Keys to Deadly Secrecy in our Government

We now know thanks to the legislation of FOIA access to federal documents and evidence and the…See More
17 hours ago
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
yesterday
Less Prone favorited rlionhearted_3's photo
yesterday
John Miller commented on rlionhearted_3's photo
Thumbnail

Another incredibly Stupid!! What, no mirrors?

"Brutal post... not sure it’s helping anyone though."
yesterday
John Miller replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"Tartaria: the empire that built half the world's cathedrals, then vanished because someone…"
yesterday
Burbia commented on rlionhearted_3's photo
Thumbnail

Another incredibly Stupid!! What, no mirrors?

"This movie portrayed plastic surgery as absurd. I guess the numbers in the real world are growing."
Tuesday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Redux

"Ah yes, General Jussitri Smolletkov. Good tongzhi. Good tongzhi."
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Unusual Discoveries and Headlines

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient tool dated to be 6,000 years old, but even more…See More
Monday
tjdavis posted a video

Inside Texas HOMELESS HELL – Even Cops Don't Dare Step In! - Documentary

In this powerful documentary, we explore the escalating Texas homeless crisis 2025, where cities and rural areas alike are witnessing a disturbing rise in th...
Monday
tjdavis posted a photo
Monday
John Miller replied to MAC's discussion BREAKING! UFO whistleblowers drop BOMBSHELL on D.C. | Redacted with Natali and Clayton Morris
"Crazy how these whistleblower stories are finally making it into bigger conversations. Makes you…"
Sunday
Burbia favorited tjdavis's blog post The Dems Love Their Demons
Sunday
John Miller commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Comprehensive Coverage

"That car needs an exorcism, not an oil change."
Saturday
John Miller commented on tjdavis's blog post The Dems Love Their Demons
"If the Dems are dating demons, then that AI romance shoot was basically engagement photos."
Saturday
John Miller replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"Wouldn't be surprised if there's a whole lot more buried under the surface here."
Saturday
Less Prone favorited rlionhearted_3's photo
Saturday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted