Big Brother is watching you -- New Security Cameras in Downtown Detroit

[Gannon]

Is that on the corner of the Vinton Building? Are there similar ones on other buildings in the area.

Nearly identical [[gruesome, zitlike) clusters appeared on One Woodward a short while after Dan Gilbert purchased it. Every corner, plus one at the very top of the building...like the one on the CAY across the street...which must have the mother of all zoom lenses to be anywhere near effective.

I bet ol' Danny will be busy with that one when the Scientologists finally move into the old Raymond James' Building across the street. Not sure they're going to like being under surveillance...by one clearly not Clear.

[Gannon]

I've noticed that the newbie Quickens all seem to wear their employee badges when they are walking around the downtown area. This used to be a solid no-no, since it identified a person's employer...and/or gullibility of the wearer, especially in cities with significant convention traffic.

It is always a bad idea to openly wear convention badges outside the venue.

But these badges have become so common I suspect they have purpose...so these employees can be identified by the Control Center in the old bank building. I'd bet they are RFID tagged, to help automate the surveillance.

That would be one reason for the multiple pan-n-tilts at corner locations. That might be the cheapest way to look everywhere at once...if these things auto-aim and focus on RFID, which would be logical since the system is obstensibly for employee safety and security, one per corner might get a little jumpy.

[Honky Tonk]

That would be one reason for the multiple pan-n-tilts at corner locations. That might be the cheapest way to look everywhere at once...if these things auto-aim and focus on RFID, which would be logical since the system is ostensibly for employee safety and security, one per corner might get a little jumpy.

Or, They want to know where you're going, what you're doing there, with whom, and for how long.

[Jimaz]

... But these badges have become so common I suspect they have purpose...so these employees can be identified by the Control Center in the old bank building. I'd bet they are RFID tagged, to help automate the surveillance.

That would be one reason for the multiple pan-n-tilts at corner locations. That might be the cheapest way to look everywhere at once...if these things auto-aim and focus on RFID, which would be logical since the system is ostensibly for employee safety and security, one per corner might get a little jumpy.

Tip of the hat for reasoning that out so well. They're obviously not all redundantly pointed at the same target and so they need some way to differentiate targets. RFID would be one way to do that.

[HelloIDistance]

I've noticed that the newbie Quickens all seem to wear their employee badges when they are walking around the downtown area. This used to be a solid no-no, since it identified a person's employer...and/or gullibility of the wearer, especially in cities with significant convention traffic.

It is always a bad idea to openly wear convention badges outside the venue.

But these badges have become so common I suspect they have purpose...so these employees can be identified by the Control Center in the old bank building. I'd bet they are RFID tagged, to help automate the surveillance.

That would be one reason for the multiple pan-n-tilts at corner locations. That might be the cheapest way to look everywhere at once...if these things auto-aim and focus on RFID, which would be logical since the system is obstensibly for employee safety and security, one per corner might get a little jumpy.

LOL this is so crazy I had to respond. Are you serious? God forbid a company who wants to move downtown and try to do something for the community. Wish it was all a barren wasteland again. Sometimes this forum is insane.

PS: Quicken employees wear their badges because it is required to get in buildings, buddy. You know, like every other major US city?

[wolverine]

PS: Quicken employees wear their badges because it is required to get in buildings, buddy. You know, like every other major US city?

Are they actually visible? Seems like a bigger risk IMO.

Yes, nearly everyone who works in a major downtown building in other cities has a badge. But we keep them in our wallets, and the systems in place are still capable of giving clearance within the building.

But these badges have become so common I suspect they have purpose...so these employees can be identified by the Control Center in the old bank building. I'd bet they are RFID tagged, to help automate the surveillance.

Oh please, RFID scanning is still not all that great in longer ranges. Even transit companies can't get suitable range within 10 feet. They can only track people at turnstiles with current [[affordable) technology...and the credit card or transit card scanning on those machines hardly works half the time. In the case of office buildings, when they swipe or key in. But cameras? No.

[HelloIDistance]

Are they actually visible? Seems like a bigger risk IMO.

Yes, nearly everyone who works in a major downtown building in other cities has a badge. But we keep them in our wallets, and the systems in place are still capable of giving clearance within the building.

Yes, it is visible, but I'm still not seeing the risk.

[Gannon]

Oh please, RFID scanning is still not all that great in longer ranges. Even transit companies can't get suitable range within 10 feet. They can only track people at turnstiles with current [[affordable) technology...and the credit card or transit card scanning on those machines hardly works half the time. In the case of office buildings, when they swipe or key in. But cameras? No.

That might explain the lonely one at emporer-height in each of those clusters around the perimeter of One Woodward...



But there are many ways to identify a person automatically...facial and gait recognition being likely the most common, after cell-phone id. You cannot tell me THAT doesn't have longer ranges, you can be triangulated within a cell zone. RFID has powers that are not publicly known...you only hear about the 'features' that are welcome to the populace.

If it wasn't effective, why would they be pushing it so hard?!

You'll hear most of the unwelcome capabilities from those who use scanners and wander around cracking and hacking...and some of those reports are damning. RFID is one of the most insidiously dangerous technologies ever.

[Gannon]

To be fair, though, he DID finally get some window coverings to replace those FedEx and UPS supplies taped to the windows of 3-5 and 7-9. If only they could be kept completely closed to dither the visual cacophony of those custom streetmap light fixtures.

But I'm wondering how we can score the paintball wars, perhaps that is the reason for the duplicate cameras. I think it is funny that they think these will be out of the range of those taggers who can hit the side of a freeway overpass in the dark.

I used a cute plastic vise-on-a-stick up north at a friend's summer home a weekend ago...to spray the eaves for wasp nests. Thing had a trigger on a string...and could reach >25 feet up fully extended. He said he bought it at Home Depot. It wouldn't take someone with nefarious intent but a minute to foul all of these dome cameras.

I'm just sayin'...

[wolverine]

The few times I've done photography for my blog in the Campus Maritus area - an immersive experience in which I might sit in a single spot and take pictures for 5-10 minute spans - I always get these sneaking suspicions that I'm somehow being watched or have been "noticed". That might sound paranoid, and I recognize that it very well may be, but I have a hunch that they REALLY watch the area.

Meanwhile, a bunch of common citizens were probably observing your behavior.

[Honky Tonk]

Meanwhile, a bunch of common citizens were probably observing your behavior.

I know they watch me WHERE EVER I go.

[Urban Pheasant]

I saw this one out on the streets the other night and had to take a pic. I heard a story about one of these popping up at a local shop. Rock security team showed up, distracted the shop keep while another agent took it off the door. Sounds like they might be a little self conscious about the image being portrayed by all of this "security". I am surprised the news hasn't covered this.... LOL.

[Honky Tonk]

I saw this one out on the streets the other night and had to take a pic. I heard a story about one of these popping up at a local shop. Rock security team showed up, distracted the shop keep while another agent took it off the door. Sounds like they might be a little self conscious about the image being portrayed by all of this "security". I am surprised the news hasn't covered this.... LOL.

Just so I'm understanding this. Two of Gilbert's private security squad, came into a private store, and without permission, and removed this poster?

[Chinman]

as was said earlier, those new small ones on light poles are for emergency vehicles and fire. they will switch geen for them so they dont have to slow down and go around cars in left lane and stop those crossing on green.
all big cities have them.

[Urban Pheasant]

It was a sticker not a poster.

[Gannon]

...and if your city has recently begun replacing streetlights, it is roughly damn certain that they have listening devices built into them.

The network is nearly finished being installed, ready for the next Hitler.

[Gannon]

Here's a fine update to this thread.

http://www.infowars.com/new-mesh-net...s-spy-cameras/


In light of the new NSA devices that building owners are being forced to bolt onto the sides of their buildings...

[CrashDummy]

This reminds me of the story about so called "black boxes" installed in cars to gather driving and crash information. These already exist - they are kind of necessary to judge when to deploy airbags. But this was about the feds mandating the type and format of the information gathered in order to share info more easily. I thought it was a great idea, but reading comments and even some FB posts, people were all over Big Brother watching them and whatnot. I thought "How silly. Don't you realize that whatever info is gathered, you're just a data point and no one really cares about you...". And then it dawned on me. What people really fear more than being watched is the reality of their own insignificance.

[Armin]

...and if your city has recently begun replacing streetlights, it is roughly damn certain that they have listening devices built into them.

The network is nearly finished being installed, ready for the next Hitler.

These are the ramblings of a lunatic. I actually feel sad for you.

[Gannon]

These are the ramblings of a lunatic. I actually feel sad for you.

I actually do not care!

Hang tight, the writing has been on the wall since 9/11 and the gradual erosion of our privacy and independence.

All I'm doing is describing what is happening in plain sight, with supporting documentation when available...you can take it or leave it, obviously.


Cheers

[leland_palmer]

These are the ramblings of a lunatic. I actually feel sad for you.

Minus the Hitler bit.

http://rt.com/usa/harwood-intellistr...armington-321/

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...ent-and-safety

[Jimaz]

Minus the Hitler bit.

http://rt.com/usa/harwood-intellistr...armington-321/

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...ent-and-safety

And these stories are from two years ago. I imagine they've come a long way since then.

I noticed some kind of new camera-like devices mounted at the traffic light in historic downtown Utica. At first I thought they were just traffic detectors to help speed up that notoriously slow traffic light. Then I noticed it used to take about 52 seconds to cycle but now it can sometimes take over 90 seconds even with no other traffic present! Argh!

I don't know what they are but if they were supposed to speed up traffic, they're failing.

I have a confession: I have grown to hate technology. LOL!

[Gannon]

Minus the Hitler bit.

Yeah, most people don't want to admit this probability.

It is so likely now, we've gone well past the tipping point.

According to some, the dude is already in office. I refuse to believe that, but then again, I may be choosing my own ignorance there. Always on guard against that...

[Wheels]

^^^^^Lunatic Fringe - I know you're out there
You're in hiding, and you hold your meetings
I can hear you coming, and I know what you're after
We're wise to you this time we won't let you kill the laughter
wise to you this tiiimmme
OOO-OOO-OOO-uh-Huh
OOO-OOO-OOO-uh-Huh
OOO-OOO-OOO-uh-Huh

Lunatic Fringe - in the twilight's last gleaming
This is open season, but you won't get too far
'Cause you got to blame someone for your own confusion
We're all on guard this time against the Final Solution
all on guard this time

Oh Yea-a-a

[stinkytofu]

Infowars? That website is full of complete whackjobs. Didn't bother to open the link.