<nettime> BBC E-mail: Secret agents raid webcam artist

Sun Jul 10 01:50:54 PDT 2011

Making the pictures - fine. Distributing the pictures - not that fine.

Op 10 juli 2011 01:42 schreef Ted Smith <teddks at gmail.com> het volgende:

> I don't see how this is illegal -- IANAL, but I doubt that the people
> being photographed have any legal basis to prevent that (really? you
> think it's illegal for people to be photographed in retail stores?).
>
> The secret service is probably involved because of this:
> <http://peoplestaringatcomputers.tumblr.com/post/7255735213>
>
> On Sat, 2011-07-09 at 23:53 +0300, lodewijk andrC) de la porte wrote:
> > This kind fellow collected full facial images when people couldn't have
> > suspected it. Some argue it's a place where people couldn't reasonably
> > expect not to have been photographed, a store doesn't have to be a public
> > place however and making the images publicly accessible (via his website
> > where people could comment on individual pictures) is something even
> worse.
> >
> > His practice is most likely illegal and I can't quite say I like it
> either.
> >
> > The only thing strange about it is secret service investigating the case.
> > Can't say he did something to the treasury and I think it would've been
> big
> > news if he caught the president (or the likes) in one of the shots.
> >
> > The EFF's legal advice should always be requestable. I hope not, however,
> > that the EFF will take sides with the photographer.
> >
> > Lewis
> >
> > 2011/7/9 Eugen Leitl <eugen at leitl.org>
> >
> > > ----- Forwarded message from Molly Hankwitz <mollyhankwitz at gmail.com>
> > > -----
> > >
> > > From: Molly Hankwitz <mollyhankwitz at gmail.com>
> > > Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 19:27:15 -0700
> > > To: nettime-l at kein.org
> > > Subject: <nettime> BBC E-mail: Secret agents raid webcam artist
> > > X-Mailer: iPhone Mail (8G4)
> > >
> > >
> > > I saw this story on the BBC News iPhone App and thought you should see
> it.
> > >
> > > ** Secret agents raid webcam artist **
> > >
> > > The US Secret Service has raided the home of an artist who
> > > collected images f= rom webcams in a New York Apple store.
> > > <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14080438 >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kyle McDonald is said to have installed software that photographed
> > > people looking at laptops then uploaded the pictures to a website.
> > >
> > > Mr McDonald said he had obtained permission from a security guard to
> > > take photos inside the store.
> > >
> > > Apple declined to comment. However, the Secret Service confirmed that
> > > its electronic crime division was involved.
> > >
> > > A spokesperson told the BBC that the investigation was taking place
> > > under US Code Title 18 /1030 which relates to Fraud and related
> > > activity in connection with computers.
> > >
> > > Offences covered by the legislation carry a maximum penalty of 20
> > > years in prison.
> > >
> > > Writing on Twitter, Mr McDonald said: "@secretservice just stopped by
> > > to investigate [web address removed] and took my laptop. Please assume
> > > they're reading any e-mails you send me."
> > >
> > > No arrests had been made in the case as of 8 July.
> > >
> > > Staring
> > >
> > > Kyle McDonald's images were uploaded to a page on the blogging site
> > > Tumblr. In the description of People Staring at Computers, the project
> > > is described as: "A photographic intervention. Custom app installed
> > > around NYC, taking a picture every minute and uploading it if a face
> > > is found in the image. Exhibited on site with a remotely triggered app
> > > that displayed the photos full screen on every available computer."
> > >
> > > The site features a video and series of photographs, apparently
> > > showing shoppers trying-out computers. Comments on the individuals by
> > > visitors to the site are also attached to the images. Mr McDonald,
> > > writing on Twitter, said that he had been advised not to comment
> > > on the case by the online freedom group the Electronic Frontier
> > > Foundation.
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> > > ----- End forwarded message -----
> > > --
> > > Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
> > > ______________________________________________________________
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