from the police blotter...
"7:18 p.m. — Police were asked to check a woman's car because she thought her former boyfriend put a bugging device in it. The officers found nothing." (source)
Unfortunately, most people don't know that professional eavesdropping detection assistance is available. Whenever eavesdropping is suspected consult with one of them, first. For business eavesdropping concerns click here.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Internal "Affairs" II
NH - Patrolmen and sergeants within the Seabrook Police Department have filed an unfair labor practice against the department to get information on phone-recording devices they say allowed others to secretly record them. (more)
Internal "Affairs"
CA - A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's spokesman said Monday that the department will make no comment on a high-ranking commander's accusation that the sheriff and undersheriff illegally spied on him in his office during a private meeting in late 2006.
Sheriff's Cmdr. Gary Hoving filed a $1.25 million claim against the county Friday, alleging Sheriff Pat Hedges and Undersheriff Steve Bolts illegally bugged his office in October 2006.
In the claim, Hoving, a 28-year veteran and the third-highest-ranking officer in the Sheriff's Department, accuses Hedges and Bolts of “unlawfully entering” his office in early October 2006 to place a concealed video camera in the ceiling.
The claim also alleges that Bolts attached an audio recording device to the common wall between Hedges' and Hoving's office with the intent of recording a “private” meeting between Hoving and Sgt. Jay Donovan.
The surveillance and recording equipment was operated from Hedges' office, according to the claim. (more)
Sheriff's Cmdr. Gary Hoving filed a $1.25 million claim against the county Friday, alleging Sheriff Pat Hedges and Undersheriff Steve Bolts illegally bugged his office in October 2006.
In the claim, Hoving, a 28-year veteran and the third-highest-ranking officer in the Sheriff's Department, accuses Hedges and Bolts of “unlawfully entering” his office in early October 2006 to place a concealed video camera in the ceiling.
The claim also alleges that Bolts attached an audio recording device to the common wall between Hedges' and Hoving's office with the intent of recording a “private” meeting between Hoving and Sgt. Jay Donovan.
The surveillance and recording equipment was operated from Hedges' office, according to the claim. (more)
McLaren fined $100m for spying
The McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team was on Thursday night fined $100m – a sum unprecedented in sport – and thrown out of this year’s F1 constructors’ championship by motor sport’s top judicial body.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council took the action after finding the Anglo-German team, which until Thursday night led the competition, guilty of fraudulent behaviour relating to a technical dossier belonging to rival Ferrari which was found in the possession of a senior employee.
In a further humiliation for both the McLaren team and DaimlerChrysler, which owns a 40 per cent stake, the council ruled that McLaren’s cars for the 2008 season would be assessed by independent inspectors to establish whether any secrets contained in the 780-page document had been utilised. (more)
The FIA World Motor Sport Council took the action after finding the Anglo-German team, which until Thursday night led the competition, guilty of fraudulent behaviour relating to a technical dossier belonging to rival Ferrari which was found in the possession of a senior employee.
In a further humiliation for both the McLaren team and DaimlerChrysler, which owns a 40 per cent stake, the council ruled that McLaren’s cars for the 2008 season would be assessed by independent inspectors to establish whether any secrets contained in the 780-page document had been utilised. (more)
Friday, September 14, 2007
Belichick Fined; Patriots Will Lose Pick
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been fined the league maximum of $500,000, and the team has been ordered to pay $250,000 for illegally taping the New York Jets' sidelines during last Sunday's 38-14 win at the Meadowlands. (Belichick was warned last season when his spy cameraman, Matt Estrella, was caught on the sidelines in Green Bay.) ...
The Jets coach looked beyond paranoid when he put a paper shredder in the locker room to destroy practice plans. Somehow, that almost seems like a smart precaution now. If the Patriots are brazen enough to do this on the road, imagine what they're doing at home. The next team that travels to Foxboro should leave their special teams at home and bring CSI on the trip to sweep for bugs.
Think we're kidding? It's already happening. Kevin Murray, who runs a counter-espionage firm in Oldwick, has been hired by several NFL teams to secure team offices during sensitive contract negotiations. "I don't think they're paranoid," Murray said. "Just cautious." (more)
The Jets coach looked beyond paranoid when he put a paper shredder in the locker room to destroy practice plans. Somehow, that almost seems like a smart precaution now. If the Patriots are brazen enough to do this on the road, imagine what they're doing at home. The next team that travels to Foxboro should leave their special teams at home and bring CSI on the trip to sweep for bugs.
Think we're kidding? It's already happening. Kevin Murray, who runs a counter-espionage firm in Oldwick, has been hired by several NFL teams to secure team offices during sensitive contract negotiations. "I don't think they're paranoid," Murray said. "Just cautious." (more)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Those Wacky Racers
McLaren have been informed of another investigation into alleged spying after Italian prosecutors visited the British team at the Monza circuit on Saturday night. The team are already due in Paris on Thursday to face the World Motor Sport Council for a second time about the affair after the arbitrators claimed they had uncovered new evidence. McLaren were found guilty of fraudulent conduct after the first hearing but were not penalised due to a lack of evidence.
Italian prosecutors are still in proceedings against former Ferrari head of performance development Nigel Stepney, who is accused of sabotaging the team's cars at the Monaco grand prix.
The Italian authorities appear to be widening the investigation to include the alleged spying between Formula One's top two teams. (more)
The Nairobi Trio finds Work
Kenya - Is there a skeleton in your closet you hope will stay there forever? Something nobody knows about? Well, if that dark secret is communicated over phone, someone may know about it.
Without your consent, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) wing of the police can now listen-in your phone conversation "for security reasons".
To set the eavesdropping programme rolling, the department has acquired a state of the art machine. The equipment, "a generous and timely donation" from Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), is to aid in "taking the anti-graft crusade to the next level".
In its backyard, the anti-corruption body has a similar machine to monitor communication between specific subscribers. In the same league is the spy agency - National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) - which was the first to acquire the machines.
The machine at the CID headquarters, Mazingira House off Kiambu Road, was secretly installed a few months ago and is being monitored by officers from the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU). (more)
Without your consent, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) wing of the police can now listen-in your phone conversation "for security reasons".
To set the eavesdropping programme rolling, the department has acquired a state of the art machine. The equipment, "a generous and timely donation" from Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), is to aid in "taking the anti-graft crusade to the next level".
In its backyard, the anti-corruption body has a similar machine to monitor communication between specific subscribers. In the same league is the spy agency - National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) - which was the first to acquire the machines.
The machine at the CID headquarters, Mazingira House off Kiambu Road, was secretly installed a few months ago and is being monitored by officers from the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU). (more)
Monday, September 10, 2007
SpyCam Story #375 - Football Spies
New York - The NFL is looking into claims a New England Patriots employee was videotaping signals by Jets coaches on New York's sideline during the season opener.
The investigation was first reported by ESPN.com, which said that NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee during New England's 38-14 victory Sunday. The employee was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches, who were sending signals out to the players, sources told the Web site.
"The rule is that no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game," the league said in a statement from spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited. (more)
The investigation was first reported by ESPN.com, which said that NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee during New England's 38-14 victory Sunday. The employee was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches, who were sending signals out to the players, sources told the Web site.
"The rule is that no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game," the league said in a statement from spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited. (more)
Art Imitates Life - Ars Electronica 2007
"Goodbye Privacy" -- Festival Ars Electronica 2007
A new culture of everyday life is now upon us, bracketed by the angst-inducing scenarios of seamless surveillance... One in which everything seems to be public and nothing is private anymore. Dates: September 5-11. Location: throughout the City of Linz (Austria).
One of the most interesting events is FACELESS - a 50 minute sci-fi movie made from CCTV surveillance footage (100%).
Synopsis - In a society under the reformed 'Real-Time' Calendar, without history nor future, everybody is faceless. A woman panics when she wakes up one day with a face. With the help of the Spectral Children she slowly finds out more about the lost power and history of the human face and begins the search for its future.
FACELESS was produced under the rules of the 'Manifesto for CCTV Filmmakers'. The manifesto states, amongst other things, that additional cameras are not permitted at filming locations, as the omnipresent existing video surveillance (CCTV) is already in operation. In fact, scenes are acted out in front of the CCTV cameras first, and the footage is later requested from whoever owns the CCTV system.
"RealTime orients the life of every citizen. Eating, resting, going to work, getting married – every act is tied to RealTime. And every act leaves a trace of data – a footprint in the snow of noise..."
(Faceless trailer)
A new culture of everyday life is now upon us, bracketed by the angst-inducing scenarios of seamless surveillance... One in which everything seems to be public and nothing is private anymore. Dates: September 5-11. Location: throughout the City of Linz (Austria).
One of the most interesting events is FACELESS - a 50 minute sci-fi movie made from CCTV surveillance footage (100%).
Synopsis - In a society under the reformed 'Real-Time' Calendar, without history nor future, everybody is faceless. A woman panics when she wakes up one day with a face. With the help of the Spectral Children she slowly finds out more about the lost power and history of the human face and begins the search for its future.
FACELESS was produced under the rules of the 'Manifesto for CCTV Filmmakers'. The manifesto states, amongst other things, that additional cameras are not permitted at filming locations, as the omnipresent existing video surveillance (CCTV) is already in operation. In fact, scenes are acted out in front of the CCTV cameras first, and the footage is later requested from whoever owns the CCTV system.
"RealTime orients the life of every citizen. Eating, resting, going to work, getting married – every act is tied to RealTime. And every act leaves a trace of data – a footprint in the snow of noise..."
(Faceless trailer)
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Are you as Bug-Free as Rugby?
UK - According to Sir Clive Woodward spying is a fact of rugby life, and England's rugby knight did not mind advertising the fact that he had World Cup changing rooms and team hotels swept for bugs. ... Spying has become so much a part of Test rugby that no tour, let alone a World Cup, would be complete without one coach pointing the finger at another. ... "We do our job no differently to any large corporation. If they were having any conferences they would make sure that rooms were bug-free and secure. We take security very seriously," added Woodward (more)
Madonna... U.N. Plugged
"Gonna save two weeks, Gonna have a fine vacation.
Gonna take my problem to the U-nited Nations."
Summertime Blues ~Eddie Cochran
from the press release... "A human rights abuse complaint has been submitted to the United Nations in the legal case Aisha v. Madonna (case no. 06-1389). A copy of the United Nations complaint is available online at www.aishamusic.com/un.htm
The complaint alleges conduct reminiscent of the unlawful tactics employed by now incarcerated private investigator, Anthony Pellicano, who has done work on behalf of singer Madonna and her attorney Bert Fields.
The case was submitted recently under the following alleged human rights violations, pursuant to Rule 86 of the United Nations Rules of Procedure."
COMPLAINT RE: Illegal hidden camera placed in my home, illegal telephone wiretapping, illegal listening devices placed on the inside and outside of my property, theft of over $250,000, theft of my $450,000 home, theft of my multi-billion dollar valued Copyrighted Catalog, customized death threats sent to my web site, choking assault incident, separately an attempted vehicular assault on August 9, 2007 and my mother’s (redacted online until investigation completes), in attempts to spitefully bankrupt us. (more)
Read, and decide for yourself. As Chuck Berry used to sing... "Too much monkey business for me to be involved in."
Gonna take my problem to the U-nited Nations."
Summertime Blues ~Eddie Cochran
from the press release... "A human rights abuse complaint has been submitted to the United Nations in the legal case Aisha v. Madonna (case no. 06-1389). A copy of the United Nations complaint is available online at www.aishamusic.com/un.htm
The complaint alleges conduct reminiscent of the unlawful tactics employed by now incarcerated private investigator, Anthony Pellicano, who has done work on behalf of singer Madonna and her attorney Bert Fields.
The case was submitted recently under the following alleged human rights violations, pursuant to Rule 86 of the United Nations Rules of Procedure."
COMPLAINT RE: Illegal hidden camera placed in my home, illegal telephone wiretapping, illegal listening devices placed on the inside and outside of my property, theft of over $250,000, theft of my $450,000 home, theft of my multi-billion dollar valued Copyrighted Catalog, customized death threats sent to my web site, choking assault incident, separately an attempted vehicular assault on August 9, 2007 and my mother’s (redacted online until investigation completes), in attempts to spitefully bankrupt us. (more)
Read, and decide for yourself. As Chuck Berry used to sing... "Too much monkey business for me to be involved in."
Friday, September 7, 2007
Teacher Faces Charge of Wiretapping (follow-up)
A Hancock County teacher went before a magistrate Friday on a charge she spied on another teacher. Police said 52-year-old Joyce Wells of New Cumberland, a teacher at the Rockefeller Vocational Center, placed a tape recorder inside the desk drawer of teacher Mary Stewart.
Wells pleaded not guilty.
Hancock County Prosecutor Jim Davis said the recording device was discovered by a third teacher. Davis said Wells wanted to catch Stewart ranting and raving at her students. Her next court date is September 28. (more)
Grab your gavel. Do you think eavesdropping was justified in this case?
Wells pleaded not guilty.
Hancock County Prosecutor Jim Davis said the recording device was discovered by a third teacher. Davis said Wells wanted to catch Stewart ranting and raving at her students. Her next court date is September 28. (more)
Grab your gavel. Do you think eavesdropping was justified in this case?
Hamboneing SpyCam Pirates
Security guards equipped with night-vision goggles swirled around the auditorium, silently scoping out anyone who might have smuggled a camcorder into the theatre.If the guards had caught anyone taping the film they could have kicked the patron out of the theatre. But getting a court conviction would have been tough, requiring proof of the pirate's intent to sell the recorded film.
This year, things are different.
As the Toronto film festival unspools this week, anyone caught just recording a movie without permission can be charged with a criminal offence, punishable by two years in jail.
(With affectionate thanks to Sandy Becker - New York's #1 Hambone.)
Chinese spying on British government computers
UK - China leads the list of countries hacking into government computers that contain Britain’s military and foreign policy secrets, Whitehall sources said yesterday.
One Whitehall source said that China was switching increasingly from “old-fashioned espionage” techniques to electronic hacking. The source said: “China is engaged in hostile intelligence activities, and instead of using the old-fashioned methods [recruiting agents and stealing blueprints], they are focusing on electronic means to hack into systems to discover Britain’s defence and foreign policy secrets, and they are technologically pretty advanced and adept at it.” (more)
Related stories...
Chinese spying on American government computers
Chinese spying on German government computers
Chinese spying on Canadian manufacturer computers
Chinese(?) spying on New Zealand government computers
One Whitehall source said that China was switching increasingly from “old-fashioned espionage” techniques to electronic hacking. The source said: “China is engaged in hostile intelligence activities, and instead of using the old-fashioned methods [recruiting agents and stealing blueprints], they are focusing on electronic means to hack into systems to discover Britain’s defence and foreign policy secrets, and they are technologically pretty advanced and adept at it.” (more)
Related stories...
Chinese spying on American government computers
Chinese spying on German government computers
Chinese spying on Canadian manufacturer computers
Chinese(?) spying on New Zealand government computers
Penalty Strokes
Japan - The TBS net and a TBS production subsidiary have punished 32 employees, including 19 execs, for ethical breaches in reporting various stories, net officials revealed Wednesday. TBS reporters were found to be eavesdropping on 15-year-old amateur golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa for daytime infotainment show "Ping Pong!"
The chief director responsible for the eavesdropping incident was given a pay cut while four employees involved were censured. (more)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)