Forget about the government and wiretapping. I've heard about a lot of this, but a couple of these babies were new to me. After reading this article, I sincerely hope you are all in happy, deceit free relationships and that none of you are doing anything nefarious. Because if you aren't, you're in for a world full of hurt. PJ In Pictures: How They're Watching You: http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2007/11/21/privacy-surveillance-technology-op... Commentary How To Spy On People James D. Zirin 11.28.07, 6:00 AM ET http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/27/zirin-cyber-spying-oped-cx_jdz_1128zirin.ht... "No one cares more about the things you do than the person that used to be married to you," says Jacalyn F. Barnett, a New York matrimonial lawyer. Indeed, everyone knows that the government engages in pervasive surveillance of citizens in its prosecution of the war on terror. And, it has been widely reported that Google and Microsoft accumulate personal data on Internet users as well. But, the most pervasive form of electronic surveillance nowadays comes from people you know--your boss, your business competitor, someone on a journalist's beat, and even your spouse. In Pictures: How They're Watching You Want to zero in on someone anywhere on the planet? Just call GeoEye. GeoEye is the premier provider of geospatial imagery to its commercial customers to help them better map and monitor the world. GeoEye operates a constellation of Earth imaging satellites, mapping aircraft, an international network of ground stations and advanced imagery processing capabilities. And, if that's not revealing enough, GeoEye plans to launch its next-generation Earth imaging satellite, GeoEye1, in late first quarter or early second quarter 2008. GeoEye1 will be the world's highest resolution and most accurate commercial imaging satellite with a ground resolution of about 16 inches. Just think, one could punch up Angelina Jolie and see what she's doing anywhere in the world--with the camera lens only 16 inches away. On the other hand, if you don't care what your favorite movie star is doing geospatially, but are more curious about what your wife or business rival is doing on the Internet, you can bug her computer with a program known as "Pandora" available online for $49. Pandora will send to your computer a log of everything the target is doing. Yes, e-mails, Web site visits, draft letters--right down to the last keystroke. Pandora, named for the first woman in Greek mythology whose curiosity unleashed a multitude of sins, can be physically installed in the target's computer by one with access. It seems our entire culture is enmeshed in a thicket of electronic gadgets for bugging, visual surveillance and computer monitoring, which all but put the traditional private detective out of business. The president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has said that there is electronic evidence in almost every case. "It has completely changed our field." No longer the need for the high-priced gumshoe to follow someone around. Too labor intensive. Just install surreptitiously in the target's car a GPS vehicle tracking system, available on the Internet for $700, and follow her travels on your computer screen while you stay at home with your other eye, perhaps, on a football game. Is your child's nanny up to no good while you are out on the town? Follow her movements about the house with a $600 motion activated digital video camera neatly concealed in a clock, a book or an air purifier. Is your employee consulting lawyers in preparation for a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against you? Tap into his litigation strategy and discover the strengths and weaknesses of the case by intercepting office e-mail communications with his attorney. All you need do is warn the employee of an e-mail policy in place that provides, among other things, that your computers are to be used for business purposes only; that employees have no personal right of privacy in the material they send or receive through your computer systems; and that you reserve the right to access and disclose material on your system. A Manhattan judge recently ruled such communications outside the attorney/client privilege since the employee was warned that his boss was "looking over his shoulder." And if you get into litigation, almost all private information, if relevant to the lawsuit, is fair game for subpoena. Banking, brokerage and credit card records may reveal the most sensitive financial information. E-Z Pass bills may disclose clandestine journeys or secret meetings. Telephone records may tell a tale of who you know, who you talk to, how frequently and how long. If you think your life is an open book, you're right. Eavesdropping is dangerous and may even be criminal. Bernard Kerik, former New York City police commissioner under Rudy Giuliani, and Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro raised eyebrows recently over reports that he allegedly assisted her in bugging her estranged husband's boat. Hewlett Packard chairwoman Patricia Dunn was indicted after she allegedly ordered intrusive spying on board members and journalists in a hunt for who was leaking business secrets to the press. The charges against her were later dropped in the "interests of justice." The private detective involved pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges. The company settled the civil suits for a reported $14.5 million. In most states and in the federal system, anti-eavesdropping laws largely prohibit interception type surveillance such as wiretapping. There have been few reported convictions. However, federal law, as well as New York law, generally allows recording of a conversation if one of the parties to the conversation consents. Such a recording is not deemed an interception. The recording, if relevant, would probably be admissible in evidence. In California, however, such one-party recordings are deemed inadmissible. Meanwhile, the "great game" continues in cyberspace. And the names aren't changed to protect the innocent. In Pictures: How They're Watching You James D. Zirin is a trial lawyer in New York and co-host of the program Digital Age. _______________________________________________ wta-talk mailing list wta-talk@transhumanism.org http://www.transhumanism.org/mailman/listinfo/wta-talk ----- End forwarded message ----- -- Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org ______________________________________________________________ ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.ativel.com http://postbiota.org 8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A 7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE