Spying that may be off your radar

An article on government spying in on ZDNet (which is “sort of a cross between a techy and a consumer info site) is the scariest one yet.”
You’ve probably already read biometric research in a project area called Human ID at a Distance, which includes face recognition and “gait performance” detection. Facecams already are in use in airports, city centers and casinos.
But I hadn’t heard:
  • Spybots code-named MicroStar are being developed that will have a six-inch wingspan, weigh only 86 grams, fly at 500 feet, and will use infrared and video sensors.
  • Last week the Washington Post reported that the federal government may permit unmanned aircraft to fly above the United States. “I believe that the potential applications for this technology in the area of homeland defense are quite compelling,” said Sen. John Warner, added that the drones could be used by domestic police agencies.
  • Last week, the Associated Press reported that an Oregon state task force wants a law requiring all cars to sport GPS receivers and recorders. The stated purpose: To measure how far you drive and calculate how much you owe in road taxes.
  • In October, police in one Colorado county started pressuring businesses to require fingerprints when customers make purchases with checks or credit cards. Police in Arlington, Texas are asking businesses to participate in a similar program.
  • The Electronic Privacy Information Center used the Freedom of Information Act in August 2001 to obtain government documents that talked about reading air travelers’ minds and identifying suspicious thoughts.
And to wrap it up, there has never been even one congressional hearing investigating DARPA, Poindexter and his Total Information Awareness plans.