Remember how Russia’s parliamentary election had so much obnoxious, YouTube-documented fraud, that thousands of angry Russians protested in the street? Don’t worry. The Kremlin has it on lock down, soon equipping 94,000 polling stations with no less than 300,000 web surveillance cameras. Pffffffft. Read more »
Because surveillance cameras will solve all of NYC’s problems—crime, terrorism, traffic enforcement—Mayor Bloomberg and company are now looking to install them on street sweepers too. The Times says the measure is “aimed at taking the burden off traffic agents in enforcing alternative-side parking rules.” Isn’t that their primary duty? Next thing ya know, they’ll be performing tasks the city really needs, like directing traffic or something.
The BBC shot a documentary on polar bears in the Arctic regions of Norway using cleverly camouflaged surveillance cameras, allowing for some truly up close and remarkable footage, while they lasted. The curious creatures ended up destroying the devices on several occasions, a trait that reportedly helps keep them alive.
There are birds with cameras for heads perched about a Netherlands’ city centre. Since cameras have become “pests” with their constant surveillance, the Utrecht school of art begat the panoptICONS project – a street art intervention/installation of avian spies. Read more »
Bring the warmth of surveillance into your home with this Spoticam lamp that’s inspired by the “ubiquitous urban security camera” and can be mounted on a wall or used as a desk lamp. |mocoloco|
A German company offers this birdhouse styled like a common surveillance camera. “The model is called ‘Wolfgang S.’ a reference to the hawkish German Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schauble who likes spying on everyone in the name of security. |Boing Boing|
New York State Police will begin testing gun-mounted video cameras this year, with the hope that the footage “can eventually help clear cops or vindicate victims involved in police shootings around the state.” While we applaud the move and attempt at transparency, it’s the NYPD that should really be experimenting with these, as well as cameras mounted on batons, fists, walkie-talkie antennas, and tasers too. |NY Post|
With crime rates comparatively higher in Buffalo compared to both NYC and the nation on a whole, officials are hoping that a network of wireless video surveillance cameras can help curb crime. Generally located in the middle of nowhere, the 2nd largest city in New York State has plans on installing dozens more with Mayor Byron Brown promising “40 additional cameras by the end of the year.”
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