We’re building a bigger mousetrap … except the mice are the ones paying for it. The implications of this is very concerning in a Big Brother sort of way. I’m not a fan of a surveillance system that “learns”; we have already seen that American’s civil liberties have been abused in this post 9/11 world where we are in a perpetual war on terror. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I’m not a fan of an omnipresent government – believe it.
Talking Points Memo has the scoop HERE:
It’s a new type of smart surveillance system that “learns” from previously recorded video footage how to quickly scan realtime feeds and identify specific suspects. It can also flag unusual, potentially dangerous changes in an environment like an airport, such as when someone deliberately leaves behind a bag.
In practical terms, this means the software can automatically identify and follow specific suspects based on facial recognition technology, or sound an alarm if a scene changes in a way that causes concern, such as bags being left behind deliberately in an airport lobby or people or objects moving in ways deemed “unusual” by the system.
Not surprisingly, development of the BIS-E system was funded by a Defense contract and a contractor, Aptima, where Amato previously worked.
