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Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

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Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#61
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course they could be. The same way everyone around me could be a paid actor. But that's either absurd or frightening depending on your own psychology. A person pointing a camera at you without your consent, however, is almost universally disturbing.

Or simply a realistic understanding of current technology and standard operating procedures of any competent surveillance agency

To me, realistic understanding implies that I'm most likely not a specific target of surveillance cameras around town. Those were not set up because of me, and there is no alert in some security office when I enter a camera's field of vision. I imagine most people think like this.

A bit besides the point, but my phone has a unique identifier associated with it that is constantly communicated to my operator. It also has tons of other tracking software I have no clue about. While this is something I'd prefer didn't exist, same logic applies here.

I'm not pro-surveillance, but pro realistic understanding of it. I know it's not great, but what can you do? Go around town filming people and creep them out thinking you're making a point when in reality you're just annoying people?

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why can't a manager or employee at any of the stores I go into in a week, all of which probably have cameras these days, be potentially doing the same thing? I mean, I get it -- we don't think they are likely to. Because that's not the purpose of the camera. Because we figure businesses are run by people "in charge" who have certain interests. We think we understand the purpose and intention of the cameras in the sto…

That is true. We cannot expect a perfect reality with capabilities of surveillance technology. However, last few years have shown here in Europe that it is possible to at least regulate what businesses do with the footage and personal data collected. GDPR - It doesn’t mean that an employee won’t do anything, but at least the legal entity for which he/she works is accountable and responsible for how this material is h…

We of course don't have much like GPDR in the USA.

I actually have no idea what laws (which probably vary from state to state) would control what is done with private surveillance footage -- I think it's possible almost no laws would. (My guess is that in states with two-party consent laws, you have "consented" to be videotaped by virtue of some sign posted at the entrance that says by entering you consent, and that once you have, they can do almost anything with it -- but I'm just guessing).

I actually haven't read much about how GPDR applies to private surveillance video which I believe is as pervasive in most of Europe as it is here, if not more. Because it's never been as professional relevant to me as website/internet/software stuff. But now I'm curious to read more about that.

(I believe "Surveillance Camera Man" was mostly or entirely in the USA, for what it's worth).

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#63
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except its been shared widely. Its not his home movie shown to ten people, its privacy breach (I understand thats at best a hypothetical motivation not a law) with thousands, or millions of viewers. Scale is sometimes enough to make the mundane terrible. Hence memes.

True, in this case it is an exception of course. Although in times of social media an audience is easy to be found. Memes are the opium of the people or something like that.

I think opium is the opium of the people. But I do think "laughing at strangers" has persisted a long time in our culture. Millenia. Romans laughing at Braes (trousers) on Gauls...

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#64
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or simply a realistic understanding of current technology and standard operating procedures of any competent surveillance agency

To me, realistic understanding implies that I'm most likely not a specific target of surveillance cameras around town. Those were not set up because of me, and there is no alert in some security office when I enter a camera's field of vision. I imagine most people think like this. A bit besides the point, but my phone has a unique identifier associated with it that is constantly communicated to my operator. It also h…

If you have a realistic understanding you know that all those hours of video are being kept essentially forever, and that current ai capabilities are more than good enough to keep an eye on your every move using that data.

Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, you, personally, are being tracked, and that traking will remain and may be actionable at any time in the future.

Just be sure you don't piss off a cop, otherwise he might just look you up on the database and see that those cameras you thought weren't watching you actually captured a number or minor infractions for which you will now be fined.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#65
After seeing this comment and watching a few of the AMAZING vagrant holiday videos, I learned from the comments that he likes to upload to specific locations and has deleted his videos and re-uploaded them many times over the years.

I checked other mentioned locations and you can still watch the full collection here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/OkQQggPH6a9B/

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#67

After seeing this comment and watching a few of the AMAZING vagrant holiday videos, I learned from the comments that he likes to upload to specific locations and has deleted his videos and re-uploaded them many times over the years. I checked other mentioned locations and you can still watch the full collection here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/OkQQggPH6a9B/

It just loads forever :( Looks like the request times out on the video player

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#68

After seeing this comment and watching a few of the AMAZING vagrant holiday videos, I learned from the comments that he likes to upload to specific locations and has deleted his videos and re-uploaded them many times over the years. I checked other mentioned locations and you can still watch the full collection here: https://www.bitchute.com/video/OkQQggPH6a9B/

It just loads forever :( Looks like the request times out on the video player

Ah, thats terrible, I was still watching Vagrant Holiday videos

Here is a reupload - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBQi88JJ38Q

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#69
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To me, realistic understanding implies that I'm most likely not a specific target of surveillance cameras around town. Those were not set up because of me, and there is no alert in some security office when I enter a camera's field of vision. I imagine most people think like this. A bit besides the point, but my phone has a unique identifier associated with it that is constantly communicated to my operator. It also h…

If you have a realistic understanding you know that all those hours of video are being kept essentially forever, and that current ai capabilities are more than good enough to keep an eye on your every move using that data. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, you, personally, are being tracked, and that traking will remain and may be actionable at any time in the future. Just be sure you don't piss off a cop, o…

> Just be sure you don't piss off a cop, otherwise he might just look you up on the database and see that those cameras you thought weren't watching you actually captured a number or minor infractions for which you will now be fined.

You know, I'll take that any day over some random weirdo coming to film me under the pretense of making a point.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to surveillance camera guy?

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It just loads forever :( Looks like the request times out on the video player

Ah, thats terrible, I was still watching Vagrant Holiday videos Here is a reupload - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBQi88JJ38Q

Reupload is gone...
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