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Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

theguardian.com

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Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#21

Post by RaptorJ »

cheeze wrote: post #16
i_am_proteus wrote: post #15

There's a bit of scaremongering in the headline; these are being tested domestically by the DOD use outside of the US. The DOD isn't allowed to conduct domestic surveillance.

Kind of ironic that they are testing them by performing domestic surveillance then, huh?

well if "fascism can best be understood as bringing the methods of imperial rule in the colonies into the metropole." Then aside from the obvious imperial attitude of 'its ok since the DOD is developing this for non-americans,' americans themselves might be worried about the future implications of this technology.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/074.html

Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#22

Post by Robotbeat »

RaptorJ wrote: post #21
cheeze wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kind of ironic that they are testing them by performing domestic surveillance then, huh?

well if "fascism can best be understood as bringing the methods of imperial rule in the colonies into the metropole." Then aside from the obvious imperial attitude of 'its ok since the DOD is developing this for non-americans,' americans themselves might be worried about the future implications of this technology. http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/074.html

That is a very useful and succinct definition.

And we did use these blimps in Afghanistan. Very apt and chilling definition.

Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#23

Post by netsharc »

davisr wrote: post #6
davisr wrote: post #5

I don't comment much, but I feel compelled to mention how this currently has a 36:1 vote-to-comment ratio. The kinds of thing the US military is testing on their own people is horrific, and it's our duty as American citizens to oppose this kind of surveillance. I sometimes feel I'm talking to a ghost. It is truly terrifying that my fellow Americans are selling themselves out. Ring will let the government, Amazon, and…

The most important thing one can do is write, AND call, their legislature. Don't ever shut up about it. Does it stand a chance against corporate lobbyists? Probably not, but it leaves one with a clear conscience.

[flagged]

Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#24

Post by cherrypicker001 »

I saw a BBC short video while in Europe last summer. It was surreal. The video was basically showing how awesome these aerial surveillance platforms were. At one point the reporter walked out of the control center and started dancing outside. It looked like he was having a lot of fun watching himself from a few thousand feet up. If anyone manages to find it please post it. There was no talk about the privacy implications. Just a puff piece to acclimatize people into thinking this was normal.

If you don't yet know what these balloons are from articles on Afghanistan, they provide very cheap ubiquitous physical surveillance on very large areas. If one of these things have LOS on you or your home, you no longer have any physical privacy.

If this doesn't piss you off you need to look up what a panopticon is.

Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#25

Post by ultrarunner »

davisr wrote: post #6
davisr wrote: post #5

I don't comment much, but I feel compelled to mention how this currently has a 36:1 vote-to-comment ratio. The kinds of thing the US military is testing on their own people is horrific, and it's our duty as American citizens to oppose this kind of surveillance. I sometimes feel I'm talking to a ghost. It is truly terrifying that my fellow Americans are selling themselves out. Ring will let the government, Amazon, and…

The most important thing one can do is write, AND call, their legislature. Don't ever shut up about it. Does it stand a chance against corporate lobbyists? Probably not, but it leaves one with a clear conscience.

I don’t think that sending a sternly written letter should have any bearing on one’s conscious. I upvoted GP, but on the same note I know there is nothing we can do at this point against a powerful bureaucracy with a lot of ideological and financial incentive to proceed. That this has continued and accelerated under multiple administrations with varied talking points should tell you everything you need to know about the power of the modern vote at this level.

Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#27

Post by imglorp »

davisr wrote: post #5

I don't comment much, but I feel compelled to mention how this currently has a 36:1 vote-to-comment ratio. The kinds of thing the US military is testing on their own people is horrific, and it's our duty as American citizens to oppose this kind of surveillance. I sometimes feel I'm talking to a ghost. It is truly terrifying that my fellow Americans are selling themselves out. Ring will let the government, Amazon, and…

Dayton OH tried this crap with Persistent Surveillance Systems equipment that's basically a time machine: a high altitude camera that photographs the whole city and lets you follow a vehicle forward or backward in time, inferring meeting places, routes, etc. The outcry that arose cancelled the project. So yes, protest works!

https://www.acluohio.org/archives/issue-information/warrantl...

The one over Baltimore is JLENS by Raytheon: that didn't get struck down because it was never put to a vote; it was privately funded.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/15/baltimore-surv...

https://technical.ly/baltimore/2015/08/19/another-surveillan...

Re: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US

#29

Post by uponcoffee »

davisr wrote: post #5

I don't comment much, but I feel compelled to mention how this currently has a 36:1 vote-to-comment ratio. The kinds of thing the US military is testing on their own people is horrific, and it's our duty as American citizens to oppose this kind of surveillance. I sometimes feel I'm talking to a ghost. It is truly terrifying that my fellow Americans are selling themselves out. Ring will let the government, Amazon, and…

There are other people that aren't Americans on the net.

That aside, what are you doing to oppose this? People may not be commenting because they dont know how to go about stopping it or simply don't think it can be stopped; leading by example is more powerful than an appeal to pathos.

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