Loss of Privacy

Though the media were not allowed at the event, the Houston Police Department was still filmed performing their tests of unmanned aircrafts over the city’s skies. The new aircraft will be used for tactical reasons, homeland security, evacuations, and the possibility of writing traffic tickets.

News Chopper 2 had a Local 2 Investigates team following the aircraft for more than one hour as it circled overhead. Its wings spanned 10 feet and it circled at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Operators from a private firm called Insitu, Inc. manned remote controls from inside the fleet of black trucks as the guests watched a live feed from the high-powered camera aboard the 40-pound aircraft.

So, instead of seeing the occasional police helicopter assisting in crime investigation, these little drones are just going to fly around looking for people who might be breaking the law.

Also, since this could be used for Homeland Security, you will no longer have the ability to request the drone’s logs for accuracy in court. All of its activities will now be classified and top secret.

“I wasn’t ready to publicize this,” Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo said. She and other department leaders hastily organized a news conference when they realized Local 2 Investigates had captured the entire event on camera.

Awww, it sucks when you try to deceive the public and hide the fact that you’re planning on spying on them, doesn’t it? What to do then?

Houston police contacted KPRC from the test site, claiming the entire airspace was restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Police even threatened action from the FAA if the Local 2 helicopter remained in the area. However, KPRC reported it had already checked with the FAA on numerous occasions and found no flight restrictions around the site, a point conceded by Montalvo.

That’s right, threaten abuse of the law. “You can come here. We claim it’s restricted space.” Fortunately, the news helicopter stood their ground and the police were forced to back down.

This same type of action happened in the United Kingdom and was tried in Los Angeles and the FAA shut the project down.

There’s a new requirement at Montclair State University; forced tracking of students.  A specific, Sprint cell phone is now required for all students, regardless of whether they have another cell phone or can even afford one.  The cost of the phone is added to a student’s tuition bill.

The cost: $420 a year for a base plan which is bundled into the tuition bill.  It includes just 50 peak voice minutes a month, but unlimited text messaging to any carrier, unlimited campus-based data usage, and student activated emergency GPS tracking.

“What it does is allow students to have an extra pair or group of people watching over them when they’re going from one location to another,” Montclair Police Department Chief Paul Cell said.

Yeah, that’s called spying and/or stalking.  The students, however, have decided it’s a positive thing to be tracked wherever you are on campus.

“It makes me feel comfortable,” MSU freshman Ricky Bodtmann said. “I guess if people want to feel safe.”

Nice indoctrination happening there.  Those that don’t agree with the policy can do what I would do…leave the cell phone in my room and never touch the thing or transfer to a non-Stasi-like university.