Tag archive for ‘surveillance’
Updated: Shops secretly track customers via mobile phone
Updated @ 2008/05/20 21:40 GMT Spy blog reports it has received more details on the FootPath system from the manufacturer. Their update provides factual corrections to the original story. I have therefore included appropriate updates here too. The Times reports that customers in some shopping centres are being secretly tracked without their knowledge using signals [...]
The RIPA FoI-bles of Cardiff Council
Today is the deadline for Cardiff Council to respond to my Freedom of Information Act request about their use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Unfortunately my inbox is bare and the question of whether Cardiff is a Clouseau Council remains unanswered. I think that’s probably illegal, but I guess I should be prepared [...]
RIPA abuse: is yours a Clouseau Council?
In the film “The Return of the Pink Panther”, the bungling Inspector Clouseau famously admonishes a blind man and his “meunkey” for begging without a license, while failing to notice the armed robbery in progress at the bank behind him. Meanwhile in the real world, following up the story of Poole Borough Council using the [...]
Clouseau Councils abuse RIPA surveillance powers
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers bill was sold as being a vital tool in the fight against child abuse, serious and organised crime, and yes, even terrorism. Now that it’s an Act of Parliament, we find it’s actually being used to enforce school catchment areas and target nuisance dog poo. Is wanting the best education [...]
Lessons in the panopticon: school fits toilets with CCTV
Astley Sports College in Dukinfield has installed £20,000 worth of CCTV cameras to monitor pupils. Even when they’re in the toilets. The Manchester Evening News (via The ARCH blog) reports that the school has a bullying problem, and Deputy Head Ian Gilbert sees round-the-clock surveillance as the solution: “[The cameras] have definitely proved their worth [...]