Tag: surveillance technology
18 articles

Meta's AI Patent Tracks Emotions Through Voice, Biometrics
Meta just filed a patent for an AI system that can track emotions through voice and biometric data, potentially allowing for continuous emotional analysis throughout the day. This innovative technology could revolutionize the way we interact with devices, making it possible for them to respond to our emotional needs.

Sainsbury's Expands Facial Recognition to Combat Shoplifting
Sainsbury's is taking a bold stance against shoplifting by expanding its facial recognition technology to nearly 200 stores by 2026, but is this move a step too far for customer privacy? The supermarket giant's system has already shown promising results, with 90 percent of identified individuals choosing not to return.

Flock Cameras Enable Surveillance of Vehicles Without License Plates
Flock Cameras are revolutionizing vehicle surveillance by enabling law enforcement to track vehicles even without license plates. With Flock's innovative Vehicle Fingerprint technology, officers can gather crucial details like decals, bumper stickers, and temporary state tags to build a case.

AI Video Surveillance Capabilities Expand with Advanced Search Functions
Imagine being able to ask a surveillance system, in simple terms, to find what you're looking for - and getting an instant answer. AI video surveillance has just reached a new level, allowing users to pose natural-language questions about footage and receive accurate results.

ATF Scraps Ad-Surveillance Contract Amid Privacy Concerns
The ATF has scrapped a contract with Penlink for a commercial location-surveillance capability that raised eyebrows over privacy concerns, after the agency's director revealed they had been tracking people's locations through ad-tech data. The move comes as a win for those concerned about government overreach and data protection.

Meta Tests Facial Recognition for Military, Police Use
Imagine wearing eyeglasses that can instantly identify people in real-time - that's exactly what Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wants to deploy, and tech giant Meta is already working on a prototype with a Pentagon supplier.

Police Misuse Flock Cameras for Illegal Stalking
Police officers across the US have been caught misusing Flock surveillance cameras to obsessively and illegally stalk over a dozen individuals nationwide. This shocking abuse of power raises serious concerns about the protection of citizens' privacy and safety.

Surveillance Firm Enhances License Plate Readers to Track Mobile Devices
Imagine a world where surveillance cameras can not only track your car's license plate, but also scan your phone, watch, and other Bluetooth devices - all without your knowledge. A new technology called SignalTrace, proposed by surveillance firm Leonardo, aims to make this unsettling reality a reality.

Meta Accuses NSO Group of Breaching WhatsApp Injunction
Meta is taking a stand against NSO Group, accusing the Israeli spyware vendor of breaching a WhatsApp injunction by targeting users with social engineering attempts. The company claims it successfully thwarted these malicious efforts, but is now asking a federal judge to hold NSO Group in contempt.

US Army Expands Surveillance Balloon Network in Pacific
The US Army is ramping up its surveillance capabilities in the Pacific with a new network of high-altitude balloons, sensors, and datalinks, and is currently seeking proposals from suppliers to support this expansion. The project, led by the 921st Contracting Support Battalion, is still in the market research phase, with a potential full and open competition to follow.

Russia Deploys Counter-Drone Pantsir System On Moscow Skyscrapers
A viral video shows a Russian Mi-26 helicopter deploying a Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system on a Moscow skyscraper, sparking concerns about the city's defenses. The unusual move has raised eyebrows, with one user joking that it just gave away the location for the next Ukrainian drone strike.

US Agencies Deploy Biometric Glasses, Sparking Surveillance Fears
Imagine a pair of smart glasses that can scan faces and instantly match them to records in multiple federal databases, raising serious concerns about surveillance and personal privacy. This technology, powered by facial recognition and other biometric signals, has sparked fears about the potential for real-time identification and the reliability of database records.

Congress Probes Trump Administration's Commercial Spyware Ties
Rep. Summer Lee is raising red flags about the Trump Administration's cozy ties to commercial spyware, specifically its willingness to let US investment flow into sanctioned companies like NSO Group and use their tools to infiltrate cell phones. She's demanding answers from the Commerce Department about its role in these dealings.

China's Stealth Flying Wings Spotted at Secret Test Base
China has been spotted testing massive stealth flying wings at a secret base, with satellite images revealing two enormous aircraft, dubbed "The Monster of Malan", sitting side by side on the apron. Each flying wing boasts an impressive span of approximately 173 feet, rivalling the size of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

ICE Taps Graphite Spyware for Operations
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed it uses spyware from Israeli company Graphite, raising questions about the scope and implications of this partnership. The admission is a significant revelation, but many details remain unclear.

Met Police Deploys Surveillance Tech to Tackle London Shoplifting
The Metropolitan Police are testing a cutting-edge retail technology to combat London's shoplifting epidemic, and it doesn't rely on live facial recognition - but what does that mean for citizen privacy?

Army Deploys Air-Launched Drones to Shield Surveillance Jets
The Army is turning to a game-changing solution to protect its surveillance jets: small, air-launched drones that scout ahead and keep the aircraft out of harm's way. By deploying these miniature drones from its ME-11B aircraft, the Army can gather crucial intel while keeping its manned jets safe from danger.
Webloc Surveillance Tool Exposes Global Device Tracking by Law Enforcement
Discover the shocking truth about Webloc, a powerful surveillance tool that's been used by law enforcement agencies to track hundreds of millions of devices worldwide, raising serious questions about the intersection of advertising and policing. Developed by an Israeli company, Webloc uses ad-driven geolocation to monitor device activity, leaving us to wonder: who sets the limits on this kind of tracking?