IBM / Genetec Surveillance System Investigated Over Philippines Human Rights Abuses
A lengthy investigation into an IBM video surveillance project in the Philippines, raising concerns IBM helped local police conduct a bloody campaign of extrajudicial killings, has been published by The Intercept, a high-profile news publication behind several major scoops on the NSA's surveillance programs.
The investigation centers on IBM directly selling and setting up an Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) for authorities in Davao City, the third-largest city in the Philippines, in 2012. The center is sparking controversy because, at the time, Davao was the site of “hundreds” of extrajudicial killings under the administration of current Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Sara.
On top of IBM's involvement, IPVM found that Davao also used Genetec's VMS, and we have examined Genetec's involvement plus Genetec's response.
This shows increasing scrutiny of video surveillance from media and activists over its potential for abetting serious human rights abuses, particularly thanks to increasingly sophisticated analytics.
In this post, we examine:
- Background of Publisher
- Davao/IBM Surveillance Operations Background
- Surveillance Operations Details
- Genetec Involvement
- Allegations Made In the Article
- Analytics Scrutiny
- IBM/Genetec Response
- Why IPVM is skeptical of IBM's claimed capabilities
- A Wake-Up Call for Video Surveillance?
Executive *******
** ****, *** **** *** ******** a '***** ****' ******** ** * Philippines ****, ********* ***** *** ***** analytics *** *********** **** *******'* ******** video ************ ********. *** **** **** to * ****, **** ***** **** before ****, *** ***** ****** ****** associated **** '***** ******'.
Publisher **********
*** *,***+ **** ************* *** ********* by*** *********, ** ****** ************* **** ************ founded ** **** ************** ******** ********* ** “********, *********** **********”. The ********* ** ******** ****** ** eBay ******* *** ***************** ********** ** ****-***** *** ****** ** editor***** *********, *** ********** ******** ************ ********** *** ********* ******** ** Edward *******.
**** ********** ************* **** ***'* ************ activities ******** ******* ******** **************, ** ************* ********** ****.
Davao **** **********
***** ** ******** ********* ** *** Philippines ** ****, ******* ******* *** best ***** ** *** ******** ***** of ***** ****, ***** ** ******* down ** ***** *********** ************ ****** **** ********* ******** ** alleged **** *******, ***** *********, *** street ****.
**** *** *** *** *** ** by *** ** ****, *** “***** ***** ******” *********** *********. ***** ******* *** **** **** mayor *** ** **** ***********, ****** ******** ******* *****. ***** *** ************** *** killings *********: **** **** ** ****, at ***** *** ****** **** *************** executed, ********* ** ******** ***** ****** activists [**** ** ****** *********].
**** ** ****** ********* ******* ******* the ***** ***** **********, **** *** death **** ** *** ******* “**** war” *** ********* ** *************** *,*******,*** ******.
IOC *******
***** **** ******* *** *****, ***** City **** ***** $* ******* *** IBM ** *** ** ** ***, an*** ***** **** ************ *** **** **** ** ******* other ****** **** ** *********** *** Madrid. ********* ** *********** *** ***** *******, *** ***** *** ******** ** its **** ********:
- ***** ********* *** ******** ******* *** monitoring ****** ** ****** ******
- *** ******** *** ********** ****** ****
- * “****** *********** ********” *** ********* Davao **** ******** ** ********** ******** response
- * “********** *********” *** ********** **** and ** “***** ******* ******” *** monitoring “*** **** **********”
Camera *******
*********, *** *** *** *** ******* new *******, ******* ********** ** *****’* existing ***** ************ ******, ********* ** The *********.
*******, ** ****, ***** ***************** ***** *********** *** ***** *** bullet *** *** *******, ****** ***** $2,250 *** $*,*** *** **** ************. This *** ** ******** ** *** IOC’s ******** ******* ** *** ************ cameras. ****** ************* **** *** *********.
Genetec ***********
************ ******** *****’* ****** ********/************ ******, ******** below, ******** *** *** ******* *** after *******:
**** **** *****, ***** ** *** example **** *** ********:
*** ***** ** ******* ******* **** IBM:
*******, ***** ** ** ******* ** them ***** *******'* ******** ***** ********** software:
*** *** *** ***** ******** ***** surveillance ******** *** *** ******* ** do *** *********** ***** **********, **** video **** ********** **** ***'* ***** analytics ******** / ******.
*** ********** **** **** * *** VMS ******** ******* - *******, ********* and *****, ********* ****** *** **** ********.
IBM "***** ************" ********
*** ***** ***** ** ************* * decade *** **** ***'* *** ********* for ***** '*****' ************ ********:
Allegations **** ** *** *******
******** *** *********’* *,***+ **** **** investigation *** *** **** * ****** direct ******* ** *** *** ***** used *** ** ************* *******, ** cited ******* ******** **** *** ********** was **** ** ***** ***-***** *********, who **** ******** ******* ** *** Davao ***** ******/*********** ********:
***** **************** ********* ***’* ********** ***** *********** aggressively ***** ***** ***-***** ******
** ****** ****, [**] ******** ******* that *************** *** ******* ***** ** ****** **** ******** from * *** ****** ‘******* *** coordination’ ** *** ***** *** **** police
**** ********, [*** **** ********] ******* that *** *********** ********** ****** *** a ****** ** *** ****** ************ and ******* ** * *** ******** around ***** **** **** * ***
[*** ********* **** ****] **** ***** that *** **** ‘******* *****,’ ********** policing, *** ***** *********** **** ***** Davao **** ******** ******’ ‘******** *****’
*** ********* **** ****** *** ******** that ***’* ******* *** **** *** purely ********* *******, ******* **** * “former ********** **** ******** ********** **** close **** ** ********** ************”… **** the ******* *** **** [***] “********* intelligence ** *** ********** ** *** political ********** [** *******] ** *****”.
************, ** ****** ****, * ***** political ******, ******* ******* **, *** tracked **** *** ****** ** ************ gunmen ***** ***** ***** ** * “government ********* ** ********* **** *****”
Analytics ***********
*** ********* **** ****** ******* ** the *** *******’* *** ** ***** surveillance *********. *****, ******** ** ****** evidence *** ***** ** ********* ***** used *** ************* ********, *** ********* raised *** ***********, *******:
[*** ***] ******** ***** ********* ********** that ************* ****** ******* ******** ** camera, **** **** *** ******, ** their ******** **********. *** **** ******** the *******’ ****, *****, *****, **********, and *********
* **** *** ************ ** *** Davao ******* **** ******** * **** known ** “**** *******,” ***** ***** out ****** ** ***** ** **** time *** ****** **** ************** ********
*** [*****] *-*-* *****, ******* ** IBM’s ****** ******* *** ****** ******* as *** **** ****** **** *** program **** *** *********** ** *******-**** operations, ********** **** ** **** ** “backtracking,” ** ************* ********* ***** *** fact.
******* ********, * ******** *** ******** officer ** *** ***** ******* ******, said *** ***** ************ ****** ****** crack **** ** ***-***** ******* ** life **********
***** *** *********** ******** ** ** whether ***** *********** ******** **** *** face ******* (*.*. **** *********) *******. The ********* ****** *** **** ** Davao’s *** ****** *** ***** ********* stating **** ** *** “***** ******** deployed”. *******, “* ******** **** *********** video… ******** * **** ** ***’* Face ******* ********* ** ******, ********* facial ****** **** *********** ** *** streets ** ***** ****.”
************, *** ** **** ****** *********** concerns *****, ** ******** ** *** Intercept:
********* ** *** **** ***** ****** Watch ******, *****’* ***** ****** **** known ** **** ** **** ** photos ** ******* ** ***** **********.
IBM ********
** ******** ** *** *********’* *************, IBM *********** **** * “** *******”:
*** ******** ** ******* ** ******* about *** ***** ****** ****** ** Davao ****. *** ************ ****** ******* briefly ***** **** *** ******* “** longer ******** ********** ** *** *********** Operations ****** ** *****, *** *** not **** ** ***** ****,” ****** he ******** ** ******* ******* *** serviced *** ********** ***** **** *****, and ***’* ****** ******* ******* *** program ** ******* ***** **** ****.
Genetec ********
******* **** **** ****:
** **** *** **** **** ** find *** ****** ** **** * project ** *** ******, *** **** anyone ** *** **** **** **** about **** ******* ***********.
** ** ******** **** *** ** the *******'* *+ **** *** *** relatively *** *******, ******* ** ******** recollection **** *** ******* *********. ***** that *** *** *** ******** *** IBM ***/** * ******* **-******, ** is **** ****** **** *** ********* those ******** **** ******* *** **-**** them ** *** *********** **********.
**** *******, **** ***** ***** ******** that ***** ******* ****** ** ***** of ***** ********, ******* ****:
**** **** ***** ** *** ********** laws *** ******* ***** ******** ** an *******, ******, *** ***-******* ******.
******* ****** **** *** ***** *** held ** *** *** ** ***** local ************. ************, ******* **** ** was **** **
****** **** ** *** *** *** software ** * "****** **** ***** violate *** ****** ** *** ***** parties"
******* ** *********** *** "*******'* ********" section ** ***** *********, ***** ****** that ******** **** *** *** ******** "for *** ******* **********, ** ** a ****** **** ***** ******* *** applicable **** ** *** ****** ** any ***** *****", ********* *****:
Skepticism ** ***
**** ** ********* ** *** ************* prowess ****** ** *** ***, ********** since *** *** ********* *** **** than * ****** ** **** **** work ********, ********. ** *** *****, IBM ********* *** **** ********* ***** to ****** ****** ** *** ******* of ***** ********* (*.*., *** *** 2010 **** -***: ***** * ***** ****** ** Video ************). *******, *** *******'* ********* (**** almost *** ********* ** **** ****) were *** ****** ******* **** ******* reports ** ******** (*.*. ******* "******" *** ** ****** ************ Problems).
*** *** **** * *****, *** had ****** *********** **** ********* ** video ************. **** ** *** **** half ****, **** ** **** ******** pick ** **** *** ** **** space. *** ** *** ********* ** ISC **** ****, ** * **** 10 * ** *****, ********* ***** low ************ *** ***** ** ********** even ***** ***** (****** *** **** **** ***** *****.)
Conclusion: ****-** **** *** ***** ************
************, *** *********’* ************* ** * wake-up **** *** ***** ************.
***** ************ *** ************* **** ******* of ** ********* ****** ********* *** used *** ******* ******** **************. *** with **** ********* ***** **** *** increased ************ *********, ***** *** **** and **** ******* ** ** ***** used ** **** ******* ***** ****** abuses - *** **** ** *** limited ** **** ***** (*.*.,********* **** ******* ********** ****** ****** Recognition ******* ****** *** *******) ** *** ***********. *** *******, The ********* *** ************* ** ****************** *** *** ********* * ****** for *** **** ***** ****** ****** to ****** ******* ** **** ****.
**** ** **** * ****-**** ****** to ***** *****/******* *** * ****** to *** ******* ********** ** *** video ************ ********. ** **, *********, something *********** *** ************* ****** *** close ********* **.
* ******'* **** **** * **** but **** ******* ** *** *** defines ****.
**'* ********** ** ******* ** ******** * command *** ******* ********, *******'* *** ************:
* ****** *********** ******** ***** **** enable ************ ******* ***** **** ******** involved ** ********** ** ****** ****** incidences
****, ** ***** ** **, ** more ******* ** ******** ******** ***** (the ** ** ****), *** ** particular, *********** ******* ******** ******** **********. What *** ****** (** ** ***** used ** *****) ** ** ***** is *******.
****,
*'* *** **** *** **** ** some **** ** **** ** ****. With ***** ********* ******* ****** ***** day *** ******'* * ** **** to ****** *** *** ***** ************** I ****, ** ** **** ****, vehicle *****, ** **** ****. ***** I **** ** ****** *** * ginger ***** ******* ****'* **** *** description ** *** ****. ***
****** *** *** **** ** ***** some **** ** *******/********, *** **** to *** ******* ** *** ***** 'politics' ****** * ************ ** **** to ****. **** *** *** **** ultimately **** **** *** ***** ***** is *** ** *** ************. *** exact **** ***** *** ** **** to ***** ** ***** ***** ** find *** ****** ******.
*** **** ******** *** ** **** for **** ** ****** **** **** food *** ****.
**** **** **** ******...*** **** *** rest.
*** **** ******** *** ** **** for **** ** ****** **** **** food *** ****.
**** **** **** ******...*** **** *** rest.
**** ************, **** ** *** **, **** ******* *********** *** **** more *********** *********** ** ****** *** elsewhere.
**** ***** ********* ******* ****** ***** day *** ******'* * ** **** to ****** *** *** ***** ************** I ****, ** ** **** ****, vehicle *****, ** **** ****.
*** **** *** **** ******* ***** and ************ **** ****** ******* ************* to ***** ****, **** *** *********** regulate **** ** ****** **** **** can **** ******.
**** *** *** **** ********** **** with *** ***** ***** ** *** on *** ************
**** ********, ****** **** *** ************ ** also *** ********** *** ***** *** sets ** *** ****** ******** **** IBM *** **** *** ********* *** ********* ** ** *****.
**** *** *********, **** ** *** **, **** ******* *********** *** **** more *********** *********** ** ****** *** elsewhere.
*** **** ***, *** ** **** blame ********* *** *** ********....**** **** try.
**** ********, ****** **** *** ************ is **** *** ********** *** ***** and **** ** *** ****** ******** like *** *** **** *** **** ***** *** ********* ** ** *****.
******** *** *****'* **** * ********* genocide ******** ********, **** ** ***** done **** ** * ********** ** the **** ***** **** ******** **** has. ** *** *** **** ** the ****** ******** ****'* ******* ******* different **** ******* ** ** * contractor *** **** *** ****?
*** **** *** **** ******* ***** and ************ **** ****** ******* ************* to ***** ****, **** *** *********** regulate **** ** ****** **** **** can **** ******.
** **** ****, *** ****** ***** the **** ** *** ********** ******. Sadly, **** ***** ******* ** ** it ***** * ********** ******** **** legislative, ******** *** ********* ********. ******* it ** * ******* *****, *** a ********* ***.****** *********
...**** ************!
** ***** ** ******** “****” *** of ******** ** ***** ** ********* if * ************ ** ** ** ethically ******* ******** ** ***** ***** rights ******* *******? ** *** ** I *** **** **’* ********* ****:
*** ***** ** * ******* ** actively ****** ** **** *** ********/******** to ** ******/****** **** ** *****/******** may *** **** ** *** *********** of ***** ******.
*** **** ******* ***** **: ***** Ford ********* ******** ****** ******** ** the **** ****** ** *****? ** so, **** ***** ******** ********* **** the *****?
** ** **** ***** *** *** company ** ************* **** **** ** ******?
* ********** ***'* **** *** ***** social ******* ******* *******. *** *** a **** ** ****,*** **** ******* looking *** * **** ** *****.
** ** ***** *****,** ***** *** be ******* ** *******... *** ** ** a ********* **** **** ********, *** still * ********* ( ** ** Mexico, ** ** *****, ** ** Brazil) ** ** *** ***** ** a *********** ***** ** * *** party *****. *** ******* ***** ***** rights **** ********* **** **** *******, not ** ********* ****** ********. ******* to *** ***********, **** ** **** are ***** *********** ** *** * crime ** ** ****.
*** **** **** **** * **** call *** *** ******* ** *** intercept, ********** ***** **** **** ** speculation *** ********, ***** ** *** wrote ***** ** ** ***** **** the *** *** **** *** ************* killings.
"*** ******* ***** ***** ****** **** infringed **** **** *******, *** ** oppressed ****** ********. ******* ** *** authorities, **** ** **** *** ***** authorities ** *** * ***** ** my ****."
** *** *** ** **** *** use ** ********** ** *** ********* of ***** ****** (*********, ***** ****** that **** ********** ** ******* *******).-as **** ** '?
**** ** *** ** *** ******* arguments *'** **** **** ********* ** IPVM.
***** ****** ********** ****** ** ****** on *** ********* ** ****** ***** rights - *** *** ****** ***** on *** ********** ** ***** ***** rights *** ********.
** ***** ********* ****** *********** **** biased ********* ******* ***** **** *** deem ******** ** *** **** ***** rights *** ******* ** ******.
** **** ********* ** *** ********* authorities ** * ********** ******* ** not ******.
* **** ***** ** ** ***** your *** **** * ******, ***** is * ********** ******* *** ***.
** *** **** *** ****** ** the ********* *** ********* *** **** harm ******** ************* **** **** *******, violence, ***** *** ******** *********** ** hypocritical.
** ******* ** ******* **** ******* IBM *** ******* ** ****** ***** rights *****, *** ** *** **** time ********* ***** ** ** ******** of **** *** **** ***** ********** at *** **** *** ******** *** advanced ****** ** ** ** ***** this *** ** ******* ******** * saw ** ****.
** ******* ** ******* **** ******* IBM *** ******* ** ****** ***** rights *****, *** ** *** **** time ********* ***** ** ** ******** of **** *** **** ***** ********** at *** **** *** ******** *** advanced ****** ** ** ** ***** this *** ** ******* ******** * saw ** ****.
****’* **** ** **** ******** :)
***** ******* ** **** ******* ** you *** **** “****** *** *** genetec ** ****** ***** ****** *****”?
*****, **** ******** ** *** *********’* claims, ***** ** ****** **** **********, considering ** ** * ********** ****** commenting ** *** ********.
****, **** ****** *** *** ******* connection *** ******** * ********, ***** IPVM ********* ***** ********.
*******, **** **** **** ***** ** some ** *** ***********, *** ***** to ***** ********* ** **** ******* issue ** *** ********,** *******.
"***** ** ****** **** **********"
*'** ****** ****** **** ** ***** the ******** ******* ** ***** ************ technology. *** * **** ** ***** being ******* *****. ******** **** **** reveal **** ** ** *** *** of ***** ************ - ** ******** it *****, ** *** ****, ** capture ******** *** **** ****.
****... [****] ********** ** *****, ** *** ****, ** ******* ******** *** **** hits.
***, *** ** **********, *** **** of ********* **** *****-*********, ****-***** ****** with ******** ****-***** ******** ** ******** mind ********. **** * ***’* **** want ** ****.
** **** ********* ** *** ********* authorities ** * ********** ******* ** not ******.
** ** ******* ********* ** *** People's ******** ** ***** ******?
*** *** **** ************** ********* ********** ** *** ***** during ****......
********* **'* **** ** **** *** obvious **** ** *** ****** ***** but **** *** ******* *** ********** actions *** *** ******** ** ************ used ** *** **********.... *** **** the ****.....
"*** ******* ***** ***** ****** **** infringed **** **** *******". *** **** proven ** *****, * ***'* ***** so. **** ** * *** **** to ** ****, ***** ****** *** human ******, ** *** ***** ****** exceptions **** ** *** ****?
** ***********, ** **** ** ** aware ** ********* ********** ******. ** maintain ** ******* ******** ** *** industry, ** **** ********* **** ************ deployments ** ******** **********. ** *** just * *** **** ******* **** from *** ****** ******** “***** *********” with “**** *** ****** **********”. ******** the ***** ** **** **** *******, people’s ********** ** ***** *******.
** *** **** * *** **** stories **** **** *** ****** ******** “video *********” **** “**** *** ****** oppression”.
* ***** ****** * ******* **** industry ****** **** ***** ** ****.
** ****** ********* **** ** ** a ******* ** *** ******** **** the ****** *** ****, *** ***********, held ***** ************ ** * ****** net ********. *** ** ****** ** pro-active ***** *********** ********** ******* ***** standards *** **** ********** ** ******** the ***** ******** ************ ** ******.
*** **** ******** *** ***** ****** WWII **** ******** ******************* ****** **** **** ******** *** records ** *** ****** *** **** murdered
***** **** **** ***'* **** ***** hands ***** *** *** ****....
* **** * ** *** *** only *** **** ******* ** **** article ****** **** *** **** ******* of ****.
***, ** ** ****** ** ***** surveillance ********** ** **** ** ***** out ***** ****** ****** ** ********* governed ** *************. *** * **** to *** *** **** **** ******* is ******* ** ****** ******* ** keep ** ** **** ** ***** surveillance **********.
* ********* ****'* *** ** **** subscription ** ******* *****-********* **************. ***** are * **** ****** ** ******** providing ***** *** ***** ** ******** irresponsible *********.
***** ********* ********* ** *** **** stream *****.
"*** * **** ** *** *** this **** ******* ** ******* ** anyone ******* ** **** ** ** date ** ***** ************ **********."
**** ********** ******** *** ********** **** everyone *** *** ** **** ************ does ** *** **** *** ******* that *** **.
**** ********** ** *********.
* ************ ** **** **** *** require *** ** ***** ** ***** you ****'* ********** **.
***** ********* ********* ** *** **** stream *****.
** ****** ** '********' ** ** relates ** *** ***** ************ ********. For *******, ** ***** ******** ** the ******* ******, ******* ***** *** no ********** ** ***** ************. ** do ****** ** **** ***, *.*., Xinjiang ** *** ****** **** **** do ****** ** ***** ************.
* **** ***** **** **** ********* with *** ********* *****; **** **** attention ** ***** ****** ********. * support ****** ***** ***** ** "*********" posts ** * **** ** ** subscription.
* **** ** ************ **** ** many ****** **** **** ****** ******** about **** ******* *** **** ******* those ******** **** ** **** *** do ** ***********.
"* **** ** ************ **** ** many ****** **** **** ****** ******** about **** ******* *** **** ******* those ******** **** ** **** *** do ** ***********."
*** **** ******* *********** ********** *** claims ** *********** *******?
*******, *********** *** **** *********** *************** - **** ******* **** *** they *** - *** ** *** have ********** ******* *** ******* *********** - **** ** ***** ********** *** stated ******** **********.
*** ****** **** * ***-****** ******* that ******* ** ********** **** ** the ******* ** ***** ***** ******* concerns?
*** ****** **** * ***-****** ******* company **** ******* ******* ********** **** on *** ******* ** ***** ***** ethical ********?
** **** *** **** ********, ******* we *** *********** ***** *********, ** they *****.
****** ******* ** ** *** ******** because ********* **** ********* *** ** ethical ********, *** ******* ****** ********** had ******* ********. ***** **** *** interview **** ** *** *** ****** influence *** **** ***** ***** ******* concerns?
******: ***** *** **** *** * booth ** *** *** **** ****, they *** *** **** ** *** image ***** ****** *** **** ************:
***** **** *** ******* ** ********** a ****?