Recent Status Updates
Amazon Sells Facial Recognition Software to Law Enforcement, ICE
Amazon, a leading researcher in big data analysis, has sold their facial recognition service, Amazon Web Services Rekognition, to U.S. law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
While it is not clear whether Amazon’s infrastructure is deployed at the Mexican border family separation sites, it is being used to aid the agency. Amazon employees are protesting internally, and wrote a collective letter to CEO Jeff Bezos demanding an end to Amazon’s ICE contract:
This will be another powerful tool for the surveillance state, and ultimately serve to harm the most marginalized
Additional coverage by CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
Map statistics:
-
6524 Cameras
-
2336 Users
Posted 7/2/18
Blinding the Eyes
We’re busy working on the next Eyes release, aiming to have it more feature packed and faster than ever. Had to take this break to share an article contributed by one of you, though!
WikiHow has a piece on 3 Ways to Blind a Surveillance Camera, with some pretty humorous imagery. Their suggestions focus on using lasers and flashlights to overwhelm cameras as you pass, so they are unable to gather details about your face. Keep in mind that jamming cameras with malicious intent is likely illegal in your country, as is causing any permanent damage.
As an alternative, consider taking steps to fool facial-recognition software, or even prevent facial identification altogether. There are several lists of clothing and technology that can help reduce the chance of being identified by cameras.
Of course, the best defense from surveillance is to avoid surveillance technology altogether. Keep your head down, your face obscured, and follow the map.
Some updated statistics:
- 5024 Cameras
- 2028 Users
That’s 60 new users and over a hundred new cameras in under a month!
Posted 7/19/17
Version 1.3.0 Released
There is a new release today for all platforms! It includes many UI improvements and bug fixes, and new map themes for iOS and Android. Counter-surveillance has never looked this good.
We are already hard at work on the next release, which will be more feature-filled, including improvements to the GPS-inaccuracy problem that didn’t quite make it in to today’s release.
For those of you in the United States, happy Fourth of July! This is our contribution to patriotism and freedom.
Current statistics:
- 4916 Cameras Marked
- 1968 Users Registered
Mark on.
Posted 7/4/17
