Little Brother is Watching Too

CP
Carlton Purvis
Published Mar 20, 2014 04:00 AM

The concept of Little Brother is a play off George Orwell’s Big Brother in the book 1984, the all seeing eye of the government watching over the population from a single vantage point. Little Brother however, refers to the increase in private surveillance cameras and the capability to record video anywhere using portable devices or phones.

Interview with the ACLU

We talked to ACLU senior policy analyst Jay Stanley about the rise of private cameras and what that means for privacy.

More ****** *** ********

*** ** *** **** *********** ** having * *********** ****** **** ** managed ** ****** *** * ************* “system” **** ** ** ******** ****** is **** ** **** **** ********* in *** *** *** ******.

**** **** ** *** ******* *** owned ** ******* ********* ********** * city, “** ********* ****** *** ******* you *** **** *** *** ******* and ******** * ************* ******* ** what ******** ***, *** *** ****’* likely ** ** **** ******* **** reason *** * **** ****** ** work. **’* * ********** ******* *** type ** ***** ** *** *** too ***** **** ** ***** ** video ************,” ** ****. ***** ** a ******* ******* ** ******* ***** require **** ****** ** ** ********, therefore **** ****** ** ** ******* and **** ****** *** ******* ** take *** ****.

“**** ****** **'* ***** *** ***** to **** *** ** *** ****** spaces ********* ** *******, **’* * lot ****** **** **** ***** ** view,” ** ****.

** **** ***** ** * **** video ***** **** ** ****** ******** usually***** ** * **** ********* ******* from ***** ** *** ***** ** a ****** ************ *** ********* *********.

The ******** ** ******* ******* ** ***********

** ******* ** ********* ***** *** cheaper *** **** ******** “*** ***** will **** **********,” ******* ** * **** *********** **** ****.

“********* ********* ******* * ***** ****** in ***** ****** **** **** ********** they **,” ** ****.

******* ****** ************ ** ******** ** **** *** courts **** ************ ***** **** *** right ** **** ** ****** ****** is ********* ** *** ***** ********* and ***** **** “****** ******* *** ************ ********* ******* ********* *****.”

“** *** *** ** ******** ** the ****** **** *********** **** *********** when ****’** ******* **** *** ********, but * ***’* ***** **** ***** be ********* ** ******. ***** ******* play * ***** **** ** *** citizen ****** *** ****** *** **** would ** ****** ********* ** ** were ** ***** ********** ******* *******, ** ****.

Private ******* ****** ********* *** ********** *******

** ******* ******* ***********, ********** *** **** *** ************* **** ********* *******, ****'* ******* says.

*** ****, **** ** ******** **** places **** *** ******* **** ********** *** ********* ** ******* *******, *** ******* ***** ***** ***************** ******* *********, **** ** ***** ******, *** York.

“**’* ****** **** * ************ ***,” Stanley ****. “***’** ******* ********** ** do **** **** ******’* ********* **. They **** ********** **** *** ***** to ** ******** *** *** **** who ******’* **** * ****** ** this *** ****’* *****.”

***** **** ******, ****** ***** ** willing ** **** ** ***** ************ footage, *** *** *** ** ***** Plains ********************** **** ****** ****** ** *** footage **** *********.

“* ***** **** * ******* **** a *** ********* **** ** **** video ****** ********* ** *** ******. If *** ******** ***** ****** ** is *** ** ***** **** ********, the ****** ****** **** ** *** a ******* **** **** ***** *** any ***** ******* ***********,” ** ****.

****

******* **** ******* **** ********* *** a ***** *****. ** *** ********** is ********** ******* ***** ****, ***** should ** ****** *********** ********* *** use ** *** **********. *********** ** ***** ** ********* ***** it, * *** ***** **** ********** people *** *** ****** ****** ** public ******.

“******* *** ** * **** ****** state ********. *** ******** ** ***** down ** ** *** *********** * person’s ***** ** ******* ** ******** to *** *******’* *********. *** ******* photos **** ** * **** ***** deserve *** **** *********** ** * person ******** ** *** ****** **** their ******** ******,” ** ****.

Comments (6)
Avatar
Marty Major
Mar 20, 2014
FLIR Security

I agree that there is a big difference in the regulation of govt (specifically LE) vs private data collection - but private company regulation (which I also agree is troublesome) is only required because govt agencies make their license plate database available 'publicly', no?

Private companies can take pictures of plates all day.... it doesn't mean anything until they can translate that plate number/letter sequence into identifiable personal data.

So, regulate govt collection parameters, and regulate govt release of personal data (plate 'info') like we do for every other type of personal data - and then regulation of 'taking pictures in public' is a moot point.

What you say? :)

MI
Matt Ion
Mar 20, 2014

Borderline apropos of nothing, I was just idly wondering whether the ACLU has surveillance in any of their offices, or their staff in any of their homes... 

Avatar
Ari Erenthal
Mar 21, 2014
Chesapeake & Midlantic

You're wondering if the parent agency of the guy who just told Carlton that surveillance in the hands of non state actors is a good thing uses surveillance? I hope the answer to that question is 'yes'.

ZP
Zeb Pena
Mar 21, 2014
Nicely done Carlton, very informative!
MN
Mark Nicol
Mar 22, 2014
IPVMU Certified

Marty, what license plate data do you think law enforcement is making public? Other than when someone files a freedom of information actrequest, I don't know of any agencies that provide any plate information to the public or to private industry. And even under this filing, the only information released would be a plate number, location and date/time. Any motor vehicle registration information is/ should not be associated with ALPR data and would probably violate a number of laws if provided.

Some agencies do share information with other law enforcement agencies through fusion centers but I don't know of any data sharing to private businesses. Vigilant will allow law enforcement access to the privately collected data from mobile ALPR but the law enforcement data is retained within the respective agencies.

Avatar
Marty Major
Mar 22, 2014
FLIR Security

Mark,

The Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (DPPA) restricts who has access to DMV databases - and as you note, these DMV databases are not public record.

However, anyone can pay a licensed private investigator to obtain this information - as long as they assert that the request is for a 'DPPA Permissable Purpose'.

Below is copied from a licensed PI firm named Docusearch

http://www.docusearch.com/dppa-permissible-purpose.html

========================================================

Pursuant to the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (DPPA), you may only access vehicle registration information for any of the following permitted uses:

1) Litigation/Pre-litigation: For use in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding in any federal, state, or local court or agency or before any self-regulatory body, including the service of process, investigation in anticipation of litigation, and the execution or enforcement of judgments and orders, or pursuant to an order of a federal, state, or local court.

2) Debt Recovery/Fraud Investigation: For use in the normal course of business by a legitimate business or its agents, employees, or contractors, but only—
(a) to verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by the individual to the business or its agents, employees, or contractors; and
(b) if such information as so submitted is not correct or is no longer correct, to obtain the correct information, but only for the purposes of preventing fraud by, pursuing legal remedies against, or recovering on a debt or security interest against, the individual.

3) Government Agency: Use by a government agency, but only in carrying out its functions.

4) On Government Behalf: Use by any person acting on behalf of a government or law enforcement agency, but only in carrying out the agency’s functions.

5) Insurer/Claims Investigation: Use by an insurer or insured in connection with insurance claims, claims investigation, or anti-fraud activities.

6) Motor Vehicle Safety: In connection with motor vehicle safety or theft, or driver safety (except by or for a motor vehicle manufacturer).

7) Employment: Use by an employer or its agents or insurer to obtain or verify information relating to a holder of a commercial driver’s license that is required under Chapter 313 of Title 49 of the United States Code.

8) Towing/Impounded Vehicle: For use in providing notice to the owners of towed or impounded vehicles.

9) Private Investigator: Use by a licensed private investigative agency or licensed security service for a purpose permitted in one of the items listed above.

10) Consumer Authority: Written consent of individual. (Copy of signed consent must be faxed to Docusearch prior to the request being filled.)

You will be required to select a DPPA Permissible Purpose when placing your order. By inputting your response, you are certifying to Docusearch.com that you are in, and assume full responsibility for, compliance with the DPPA and you agree to indemnify, defend and hold Docusearch harmless from any breach of the DPPA by you, your agents or contractors and any damages, fees and costs associated therewith. Information from this file may not be used to determine a consumer’s eligibility for credit, insurance or employment, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, (15 U.S.C. Sec 1681).

If you are in compliance with the DPPA, then you can order a license plate lookup from Docusearch. As licensed private investigators, we have access to current vehicle registration information on file at your state’s DMV, so you can be confident that the results are up-to-date and accurate.

DPPA Q & A

Q- How does Docusearch verify that the DPPA Permissible Purpose I select is valid?

A- We don’t. By selecting your response, you are certifying to Docusearch that you are in, and assume full responsibility for, compliance with the DPPA and you agree to indemnify, defend and hold Docusearch harmless from any breach of the DPPA by you, your agents or contractors and any damages, fees and costs associated therewith.

Q- Who sees my DPPA Permissible Purpose selection?

A- Only Docusearch. However, if we are audited by any governmental authority or if any criminal or civil litigation arises as a result of your search, we are compelled to provide your identifiable information, including the DPPA Permissible Purpose you selected.

Q- Can I get into trouble for selecting an invalid DPPA Permissible Purpose?

A- Yes. If, as a result of any criminal or civil litigation, it is determined that you obtained protected DPPA information under false pretenses, you could be held criminally and/or civilly liable.