[Infowarrior] - UK looking at X-Ray 'naked' street surveillance

[Richard Forno]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007040610,00.html

OFFICIALS are bracing themselves for a storm of public outrage over their
controversial X-ray cameras scheme.

As part of the most shocking extension of Big Brother powers ever planned
here, lenses in lampposts would snap ³naked² pictures of passers-by to trap
terror suspects.

The proposal is contained in leaked documents drawn up by the Home Office
and presented to PM Tony Blair¹s working group on Security, Crime and
Justice.

But the prospect of the State snooping on individuals¹ most private parts is
certain to spark national fury.

And officials are battling to find a way of dealing with that reaction.

Blair ... working group

A January 17 memo seen by The Sun discusses the cameras, which can see
through clothes.

It says ³detection of weapons and explosives will become easier² and says
cameras could be deployed in street furniture.

It adds: ³Some technologies used in airports have already been used as part
of police operations looking for drugs and weapons in nightclubs. These and
others could be developed for a much more widespread use in public spaces.

³Street furniture could routinely house detection systems that would
indicate the likely presence of a gun, for example.²

But the document goes on to reveal fears at the public reaction.

Officials have agreed one solution would be to allow only women to monitor
female subjects ‹ although they admit this would be ³very problematic² in
crowds.

The memo says: ³The social acceptability of routine intrusive detection
measures and the operational response required in the event of an alarm are
likely to be limiting factors.

³Privacy is an issue because the machines see through clothing.²

Beside cameras, officials are also considering systems known as millimetre
wave imaging and THz imaging and spectroscopy.

All are routinely used in airports and other secure places to detect
explosives and weapons in luggage and on people.

Rumbled ... US system 'strip-searches' smugglers

Air passengers are now chosen at random for full X-ray examinations ‹ and
must agree to it.

Technology could also be used to halt theft, with fingerprint scanners
fitted to many items.

Elsewhere, tagged offenders could be sent electronic pulses to remind them
not to re-offend.

Cops would also get the power to build a database of everyone in the land.
Three-dimensional CCTV pictures would be coupled with records of people¹s
mobile phones and even their travel cards to get details of their movements
and habits.

Facial recognition systems to help track individuals¹ movements are also
being considered.