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View Full Version : 'Smart' CCTV to track 'rioters'.


Mather
23rd August 2011, 22:04
Researchers at Kingston University (in the UK) are developing a sinister new type of CCTV. If developed, this new system will have the ability to recognise 'certain types of behaviour' and preemptively alert the police/state to such activity. It is also going to be able to monitor people across multiple cameras, something which current CCTV systems are unable to do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14629058

With the inevitable rise in social unrest due to the crisis of capitalism, we are sadly going to be seeing a lot more of this.

Disturbing (though unsurprising) news.
RedAnarchist
23rd August 2011, 22:22
Are we sure this isn't a hoax?


"In riot situations, it could be people running - a crowd might converge in a certain place," said Dr James Orwell of Kingston University

Seriously, though, it's not surprising to me to see the state take advantage of the recent unrest. They'll milk it as much as they can.
Tim Cornelis
23rd August 2011, 22:27
Yes, this is worrying.

The police used new technology for the Olympic games to identify looters, etc. and it seemed very very efficient.
Decolonize The Left
23rd August 2011, 22:27
That system can backfire on them fairly easily. Given that the system is supposed to identify certain kinds of behavior and automatically notify the police, you could conceivably have individuals activate this system at all nodes at one time, thereby confusing and rendering helpless the whole thing.

That said, the riots were bound to develop some Orwellian backlash at some point. I fear this is only the beginning.

- August
Die Rote Fahne
23rd August 2011, 22:44
Welcome to Oceania, enjoy your stay. Hail Big Brother.
Os Cangaceiros
24th August 2011, 00:01
Is there any direct action sort of activities against the survelliance state?

It seems like such actions would be extremely cheap, easy to replicate and relatively easy to get away with.
Mather
24th August 2011, 02:25
Is there any direct action sort of activities against the survelliance state?


Not really in Britain, which is a shame as CCTV is far more prevalent here than in other countries.

There is No CCTV, a mainstream liberal/reformist campaign group:

http://www.no-cctv.org.uk/

I have heard of anarchists in Europe and the US using direct action against CCTV.