Surveillance
Ongoing coverage on Surveillance.
Latest coverage
Modder adds 235 destructible Flock cameras to GTA 5 so you can 'do whatever the flock you want' to them
A new mod for Grand Theft Auto 5 adds 235 destructible Flock cameras to the game world, allowing players to interact with and destroy them. The mod, called GTALPR, also features functional cameras that photograph the player and alert law enforcement, mirroring real-world surveillance systems. The modder criticizes Flock as a 'scourge on America' due to its extensive surveillance network.
A GTA 5 modder has just transformed Los Santos into the ultimate surveillance state
A Grand Theft Auto 5 modder named WTTDOTM has created a new mod that transforms Los Santos into a surveillance state by adding 235 Automatic Licence Plate Readers (ALPRs). This mod, inspired by real-world privacy concerns surrounding ALPRs, adds gameplay challenges like triggering police chases and offers features for photography and speedrunning destruction challenges.
197 people, no cameras: German researchers ID strangers using nothing but everyday WiFi
Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a method to identify individuals using only everyday WiFi signals, without cameras or personal devices. This technology, which analyzes beamforming feedback information (BFI), can recognize people with nearly 100% accuracy by treating WiFi routers as potential surveillance tools. The researchers advocate for incorporating privacy safeguards into the upcoming IEEE 802.11bf WiFi standard to address the risks to fundamental rights.
Saturday Legal Briefs
This article is a collection of legal briefs, primarily focusing on technology and privacy issues. It mentions a case where DHS is seeking access to protesters' signal group chats and discusses Flock's plans for rideshare dashcams and their implications for police coaching.
Purest Form sign to Dais Records, announce 'RESISTANCE' EP — MP3s & NPCs
Los Angeles-based industrial trio Purest Form has signed with Dais Records and announced their upcoming EP, 'RESISTANCE,' set for release on September 4. The band also released a new single, 'Animal,' with an accompanying music video directed by vocalist Story Beeson, exploring themes of surveillance and freedom. Purest Form has also announced several upcoming live performances, including appearances at Cold Waves Festival and Darker Waves Festival.
Morning Legal Briefs
This article covers two separate legal news items: the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Atlas of Surveillance tool for checking local police records, and a lawsuit filed by Ariana Grande against hackers who leaked her music and videos.
Morning Legal Briefs
This article touches on various legal and consumer-related topics, including the ACLU's efforts to expose state surveillance and the loss of consumer rights in the digital media age. It also briefly mentions AliExpress receiving a significant fine.
Guerilla bus stop ads are taking aim at Meta's AI glasses, and the latest stunt involves a horrifying They Live-style transforming image of Kylie Jenner
The activist group Everyone Hates Elon has launched guerilla advertising campaigns in the UK targeting Meta's AI glasses, criticizing their potential for covert surveillance and privacy invasion. One ad features a lenticular image of Kylie Jenner that transforms into a 'They Live'-style message, highlighting concerns about Meta's AI recording capabilities and data handling.
Morning Legal Briefs
The European Union Parliament has advanced "Chat Control 1.0," a measure that would allow companies to scan user data without warrants. This legislative tactic was employed to force a re-vote on the majority-required measure before the parliamentary break.
Sunday Metaverse
Concerns are rising about government website redesigns potentially increasing surveillance, while a study suggests Australia's social media ban is ineffective. The article briefly mentions Elon Musk in relation to these topics.
Microsoft fires head of Israeli subsidiary and other managers over surveillance of Palestinians
Microsoft has dismissed the general manager of its Israeli subsidiary, Alon Haimovich, and other managers following an internal investigation. This action is a consequence of a report detailing Israel's use of Microsoft Azure cloud services for surveillance in the occupied West Bank, raising concerns about legal liability in Europe and human rights issues.
Evening Legal Briefs
A lawsuit has been filed against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that the agency cannot create a large DNA database intended to track critics. The article from Ars Technica details the legal challenges to this proposed surveillance measure.
DREADCELL Horror Game Features Repeating Reality Nightmares | HappyGamer
The psychological horror game DREADCELL, developed by Horizone, has been released on Steam. The game features a core concept of repeating reality nightmares and a pervasive surveillance theme, aiming to disturb players on a deeper level than typical jump scares. DREADCELL taps into contemporary anxieties about privacy and control, fitting into the growing trend of innovative indie horror titles.
Watch Dogs Movie Actor Says Script “Tears Apart This World We Live in Today”
Actor Tom Blyth stated that the script for the upcoming Watch Dogs movie "tears apart this world we live in today," highlighting its commentary on mass surveillance and technology reliance. Filming for the project, which is being developed by Ubisoft, New Regency, Sony Pictures, and Columbia Pictures, concluded in September 2024. The last game in the series, Watch Dogs: Legion, was released in 2020.
YouTuber goes 'invisible' to America's army of cameras with his $2,000+ anti-surveillance device
A YouTuber has developed an anti-surveillance device by mounting a live-streaming TV to his backpack, which displays whatever is in front of him to obscure his presence from cameras. The setup, costing over $2,000, reportedly allowed him to evade surveillance for several hours.
MindsEye Staff Sue Developer
Staff members at MindsEye are suing developer Build a Rocket Boy, alleging the company installed secret surveillance software. The lawsuit details accusations of covert monitoring of employees.
Homeland Security reportedly wants to develop smart glasses for ICE
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly developing smart glasses, dubbed 'ICE Glasses,' intended for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. These devices would capture video and utilize facial recognition and gait analysis to identify individuals from a distance, with a target deployment by September 2027. Concerns have been raised by civil liberty groups regarding potential widespread surveillance of US citizens.
Evening Legal Briefs
Webloc is reportedly tracking 500 million phones for U.S. law enforcement. Separately, the U.S. has seen a second guilty plea linked to the Scattered Spider cybercrime group.
Morning Safety Dance
This article delves into the extensive surveillance systems employed at Madison Square Garden, examining the technologies and practices used to monitor attendees. It explores the implications of such pervasive monitoring for privacy and security within the venue.
BLOK – Beta Demo | Alpha Beta Gamer
BLOK is a first-person psychological horror game set in 1990s Poland, where players return to their childhood apartment block to uncover unsettling truths. The game features environmental puzzles and a narrative exploring themes of surveillance and systemic repression, with a beta demo available on Steam.
