bℓσωηG Posted July 23, 2010 COUNCILS USE BUGS IN LAMPPOSTS TO EAVESDROP ON YOU... HIGH-powered spy microphones on street lampposts are being used by snooping council officials to listen in on private conversations. A network of new “intelligent” listening devices which can monitor discussions has been deployed on Britain’s streets for the first time. The so-called Sigard system has been tested in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Coventry. The microphones, connected to CCTV cameras, can recognise aggressive “trigger” words and sounds, then automatically direct cameras to zoom in on the speakers. Manufacturers denied the system is used to record conversations. It analyses sound patterns to pick out angry or distressed voices. But the makers would not pledge that in the future Sigard would not be used to record whole sections of speech. Privacy campaigners condemned the surveillance system, attacking it as another erosion of personal freedom. News of the use of Sigard comes to light just days after around 200 cameras with number plate recognition software in Birmingham were mothballed when it emerged that they were being targeted at the city’s Asian districts. Corinna Ferguson, a lawyer for human rights group Liberty, criticised Sigard. She said: “Britain has been far too complacent about the growth of CCTV without any proper public debate or legal safeguards. With cameras linked to microphones and number-plate databases, everyone can be treated as a suspect. “The Birmingham fiasco demonstrates the destructive power of snooping on whole communities who could otherwise be pulling together to fight crime and terrorism.” Dylan Sharpe, from campaigners Big Brother Watch, said: “There can be no justification for giving councils or the police the capability to listen in on private conversations. There is enormous potential for abuse, or a misheard word, causing unnecessary harm with this sort of intrusive and overbearing surveillance.” The Dutch inventors of the Sigard technology say the system is designed to help combat violent or anti-social behaviour by detecting threatening language. Alerts can then be sent to police allowing them to stop minor problems flaring up into full-scale violence. The microphones can listen in on conversations up to 100 yards away. The cameras then record both sound and images. Manufacturers say Sigard can distinguish between distress calls, threatening behaviour and general shouting. The system filters out background noise and focuses on suspect sounds. Sigard systems are used widely in Holland, where 12 cities have fitted the microphones. They are also in use on buses and trains. In Coventry, the CV One partnership, funded by the city council, tested Sigard for six months by installing seven in the city’s nightclub district. No-one from the organisation would comment on the trial’s success. The new Government is reviewing the use of CCTV as it honours a pledge to defend civil liberties. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/184932/Councils-use-bugs-in-lampposts-to-eavesdrop-on-you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Magicdirt Posted July 23, 2010 If I knew about a pole that was definitely bugged, I'd concoct a story and tell it in close proximity to the bug. Then I'd sit back and watch them go on a wild goose chase. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chiral Posted July 23, 2010 The potential for abuse is staggering... Meh it's for our own safety though, seems like a good idea, I wouldn't want people using trigger words on my street...it's already scary enough in the big bad world, why I'm to scared to even collect my mail anymore for fear of something happening to me. Heaven forbid I should get to the grocers safely, there are so many of those men with dark complexion on the street, I'm sure they are up to no good...why just the other day I heard that one was arrested for that drug ...mary..marywihahna or something...filthy disgusting habits these people have, they should be locked up and sent home, injecting stuff into themselves, why they might start injecting people on the street and robbing them...oooh it makes my skin crawl, police need to do more about these people, I'm scared to death these days. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bℓσωηG Posted July 23, 2010 Lets see their sophisticated spy microphones get through the cone of silence 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chiral Posted July 23, 2010 lol...yes cause people who are using trigger words and planning violence are always seen to be hanging around lamp posts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted July 23, 2010 (edited) I hope wikileaks manages to post their list of trigger words, people will be all kinds of pissed by whats on the list I bet Allah Muhammad end the war peace freedom democracy CCTV Edited July 23, 2010 by Auxin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chiral Posted July 23, 2010 I'm gunna be pissed if words like "moist" or "equipment" are that list..perhaps we should all learn pig latin, that'll sort em good n proper for a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
