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A new low in drug testing

by Melissa Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 5:55 PM

The government is apparently planning to install face-scanning cameras and urinalysis machines in some public urinals. It sounds strange, but it's technically feasible. We need to spread the word about this so it doesn't become widespread.

I got the following message from a former co-worker. It sounded strange until I looked into it. There are several small portable and cheap urinalysis machines available. This isn't rocket science, but it is scary.

[begin email]

"I'm taking a lot of risk in sending you this, but I think it's extremely important to get the word out. We just finished a feasibility study for DHS. They wanted us to design a system to fight terrorism and drug abuse, and it's got me creeped out.

The problem was to develop a way to surreptitiously test as many people as possible for drug use. I know you're going to laugh, but, what they wanted us to design was a urinal (stop it!) that would also perform drug testing. You might think this is a joke, but it actually makes a bit of sense in a creepy way. The urinal would not only check its "users" for drug use, but would store that information in a database along with the user's picture and maybe even their DNA. Sounds weird I know, but the technology already exists to do this (and more).

We quickly rejected a brute force "sample bank." A public restroom might have a thousand or more "uses" per day and, even though the amount of urine that would need to be stored is low, that was considered too burdensome. What we suggested uses a smaller storage system. These urinals would be dry, so the "sample" wouldn't be diluted with water. After the user is finished, a quick urinalysis is performed. If we find an indication of a problem, that sample is stored away together with a few pictures of the user. Every few days the samples can be retrieved and sent to a lab for further analysis. The samples are stored away using a pretty neat technique that's low tech but also quite dependable.

Each installation could be plugged into a building's network, even WiFi. That way the pictures of the user could be analyzed and facial recognition could be performed in real time. Low-cost urinalysis units can do 50 or more tests per hour.

People are already used to the sensors on toilets and urinals that flush them automatically, so adding a small camera next to that isn't going to be a problem...

Of course, the price we figured for each installation is a bit high. But, it's not out of line for certain places, like federal buildings, prisons, or even high schools in some areas. Much of this could be implemented with COTS parts, and the price should go down quite a bit over time. And, we didn't look into DNA analysis that much, but that wouldn't be that difficult given a small enough number of samples.

There isn't an awful lot to worry about *now*. AFAIK, our study was the first on this system, and not even a test site could be in place before the end of the year. But, after that, I'd start worrying about this, especially in certain locations...


Just an FYI, but also something we need to let as many people as possible know about so they can stop this in its tracks."

[end email]
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another worrying development along privacy lines

by Hex anon w/ encryption Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 7:36 PM

another worrying dev...
gillette_tag_closeup.jpg, image/jpeg, 240x127

I was checking out RFID tags and I found out they have allocated cellular frequencies world-wide and are greatly extending the range of the tags.

this raises the possibility of them tracking people's tags by cell phone towers just as they now do for cell phones

Radar pulses can allow the tags to accumulate a charge which can be used to transpond to the weaker cell phone tower signals or the cell phone tower transmitters can be made stronger - or special transmitters installed just for this purpose

there's also a new kind of "passive" tag that doesn't actually contain an active circuit (which requires a minimal power level) - these operate as special resonate loops with special RCL "stubs" and matrixes which modify the signal hitting them each one giving off an unique signature that functions the same way the serial number does in an active transponding tag.

Spy satellites are not a practical method to track large numbers of people, but billions of tags that are married to individuals at the POP being tracked by the existing network of cell phone towers are practical.

Japan even re-allocated an in-use cell band just to complete the global reach of this network for RFID tags.

The whitepaper even directly stated they did this to obtain the best possible range !

They are constantly improving the range of active tags way beyond the range needed for a criminal to scan your house from the street (which is a broken promise) and the tags don't completely turn off - they can still track them, again lying to us, matter of fact the tags all have encryption and time lock-outs to resist attempts to disable them and *play dead* for awhile if you attempt to do so !

All of these developments are extremely bad for privacy concerns.

A person can be tracked by the *products they bought at a store* where they used to need to use a quick slap or other tracking devices.

With these tags embedded into everything they can track whoever they please at any time without the subject ever even knowing.

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A question

by Frontinus Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 8:07 PM

So, I buy a doodad that contains an RFID device. I pay cash, so there's no link to my identity via credit or debit card. I don't use one of those "loyalty card" thiniges, so there's no link to my identity in that way. I walked to the store, so my car's license tag doesn't enter into the scenario.

So, how do the evil evil PTB know who that particular tag represents? Do they have to employ people to follow everyone who buys anything home to see who they are?

Maybe the little man who follows me around to see what I buy at the Radio Shack so that they can maintain their policy of discontinuing anything that's actually useful could moonlight on that job.

You see the problem? In order to implement the paranoid vision of a total surveillance society based on RFID tags, the problem of tying all those individual tags to individual identities has to be solved- along with the problem posed by the way that everyday items get exchanged among people (e.g., disposable lighters and pens) and often find their way to the local landfill in short order.

I might also add that the OP has all the hallmarks of a typical Internet rumor- claimed to be an email but of absolutely indeterminable origin, purporting to be from an anonymous "insider", claiming to be "taking a lot of risk" in revealing the secret and containing absolutely no information that might make any means of testing the claim possible.

Pass the grain of salt, please. The BIG one.
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checkpoint - a triple use word

by Hex anon w/ encryption Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 9:30 PM

checkpoint - a tripl...
rfid16.jpg, image/jpeg, 300x400

They are also hiding them in clothes - almost invisible, fine as hair


> I pay cash, so there's no link to my identity via credit or debit card


POP (point of purchase) and in-store cameras, running face recognition software (biometrics) plugged into various law enforcement and business databases - which the "patriot act" gives specific access to in drag-net style sweeps - much like the checkpoints being implimented now do.

They are planning on doing away with cash entirely and are going to force people to pay by smart cards of one form or another.

Besides you're assuming you walk into a store with a clean slate - that they don't already know who you are with already implanted RFID tags in everything from throwaway products to *car tires* (or in your case bicycle tires or shoes ?)


> everyday items get exchanged among people (e.g., disposable lighters and pens) and often find their way to the local landfill in short order.


yes and they can track this too - finding out who all your friends and social contacts are, doesn't matter at all that many products are cheap and disposable - the RFID tags are down to a few cents each now - and getting cheaper all the time.


As to the salt you suggest people take with the parent article I didn't make any claims either way on the original claims but only added the data I've found in the same area of concern - personal privacy.

I plan on using a "tag zapper" to kill all RFID tags by EMP so I'm not worried for myself - it's the average ignorant and in denial person who will be at risk, I can only warn and inform, it's up to you to accept and act upon the data
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checkpoint

by Hex anon w/ encryption Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 9:41 PM

checkpoint...
rfid5.jpg, image/jpeg, 300x400

The clothes you wear are tracked to your home, then you are scanned and varified as you walk in a store - they already know who you are even if you don't drive and pay in cash...


1.) Israeli military has set up checkpoints all over Palestine to harass and make life miserable for them

2.) An israeli data mining company that claims to have detailed files on millions of Americans and who were behind bush's 2000 election fraud (it was thier highly in-accurate information that excluded so many minority voters in FL) - my mistake, it's "choicepoint"

3.) A RFID manufacturer that is rapidly advancing the tag's abilities especially range and world-wide access

(I'm actively digging dirt on them - I've found insider-trading scandals by checking the SEC database so far)

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fresca

by fresca Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 10:27 PM

Let's start a list.

#1

"I plan on using a "tag zapper" to kill all RFID tags by EMP so I'm not worried for myself "
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Jerrys back !

by Hex anon w/ encryption Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 10:56 PM

Jerrys back !...
the_non_zen_master.gif, image/gif, 623x575

So you D/L'ed the technical details on the tags too ?

And you design and build your own custom circuits too ?

You have advanced knowledge in radio electronics ?

Your even remotely qualified to know anything about these tags much less transmitters ?

amazing !

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fresca

by fresca Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 11:02 PM

Let's see,

The answer to all of those would have to be....no.

Couldn't care less.

But I do know this...

You are a nut.

LOL!

Now c'mon...more crazy talk!
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You are a nut says jerry the troll

by Hex anon w/ encryption Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 at 11:08 PM

You are a nut says j...
jerrys_deep_thoughts.jpg, image/jpeg, 1024x768

well you answered for me again

something about care less - I wasn't paying attention

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Back to the original topic.

by ;lk;lk Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 at 3:37 AM

If you're not breaking the law, what's the problem?

Why should a criminal's right to privacy be more important than I and my family's right to safety?

Sure, it's open to abuses. But so are all the current methods and tools of law enforcement.

Now, I know you'd all like to live in a world where we all greet the dawn singing and holding hands, but the simple truth is there are Bad. People. Out. There. And the sooner we get them off the streets, the better. If they are identified by a cop, fine. If they're identified by a urinal, that's fine too.

I have no problem with this.

And if you're not breaking the law, you shouldn't either.

nonanarchist

*** This comment was posted from an IP associated with a disruptive poster. The MD5 hash of their IP is dcbfebfbdce. This value is the same even if the user uses another name. Only posters deemed disruptive by the editorial collective will have this text appended to their posts. We apologize for any erroneous misidentifications.
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oh jerry you're SO american

by Hex anon w/ encryption Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 at 4:58 AM

> Why should a criminal

1.) Innocent until proven guilty by a jury of peers

2.) everyone has a right to privacy - a basic human right


I think I read that in something called the CONSTITUTION/BILL OF RIGHTS

naturally jerry plays the "devil's advocate" and naturally he supports the spy-state of israel in this violation of another country's citizen's rights

I mentioned israel's role in this intentionally just to draw him out on this (trolls smoked out by the same tricks they try to use on us)

He spends so much time talking about the left/my "blind support of all things anti-israel" (when in fact I only collect data and the DATA merely reveals the truth - nothing more or less)

So I suspected another case of projection - he blindly supports israel no matter what (israel can-do-no-wrong)

congratulations - even though lacking data (see above) like I have, you DO blindly support them

And IMC patrons take note of his attitude about certain socially mis-aligned US citizens not deserving our constitutionally guaranteed rights when jerry whines about me digging dirt on HIM - even though I only have access to publicly available information and not tracking him like these tags do.

But speaking of criminals, as I stated above RFID tags are quite handy

A criminal can scan your house/car/person and see *exactly* what merchandise you own - from a distance.

walking down a sidewalk or driving by in a car - getting lists of everything people have in thier homes to decide who to break in

going through a store parking lot - see what people have in thier trunks - decide who's car to break into or steal

the criminal of course disables/zaps his own RFID tags so they are no threat to him - no invasion of his privacy...

it's all the jerry's of the world - who in thier supreme ignorance and blindness become easy prey

the blind support of israel (who is leading the assult on the privacy of others mostly through various "security" and communication companies) buys jerry victimhood of the very people he's so afraid of - other US citizens

the circle thus complete - you get what you deserve.
that which you wish upon other's comes back home to roost...

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Hee hee! (Have you noticed that's getting to be my standard response to Hex's posts?)

by lkhjhgjhf Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 at 4:47 PM

Where, oh WHERE, do I begin?

Might as well take 'em in order.

"1.) Innocent until proven guilty by a jury of peers..."

Not what I said. A criminal, for all practical purposes, is someone who has broken the law...conviction is irrelevant. A criminal KNOWS he/she has broken the law. I'm not saying they don't think they have some imperative or justification to do so, but they are aware of the law and the fact that their actions violate it.

"naturally jerry plays the "devil's advocate" and...[insert standard Hex anti-Israel non-seqitur here]...you DO blindly support them"

Nope. You must have me confused with someone else. I'd like to see Isael pull back the settlements, build their wall along the 1967 border, and then calmly and without remorse vaporize anyone crossing said wall illegally...as would be their right. I'd like to see them scale back the retaliatory strikes, and limit civilian casualties even more.

...or is your definition of "blind support for Israel" anything that does not call for the immediate and violent destruction of Israel? Just curious.

"...attitude about certain socially mis-aligned US citizens not deserving our constitutionally guaranteed rights..."

Pay attention, Hex. How many times have I said that even though I disagree with you, I fully support, and will defend with my life, your right to say it? (I suspect, however, that you wouldn't cross the street to spit on me if I were on fire.) Have you EVER seen me call for anyone's censorship? Have you EVER seen me "ignore" someone? Your claim is ludicrous.

"...jerry whines about me digging dirt on HIM..."

That's not whining; it's laughter. You know why? 'Cause I'm not Jerry! Ha ha! Dork.

"...israel (who is leading the assult on the privacy of others mostly through various "security" and communication companies)..."

Damn Jews, trying to defend themselves. Who do they think they are, anyway? The nerve!

"...the very people he's so afraid of - other US citizens"

Huh? Where, exactly, did you get that one from? Never mind, I know. Your Catalog of Preconceived Notions and Sweeping Generalities, Conservative Edition.

You just can't understand it, can you? Not equipped for it, or something. Anyway, one more time:

I support your freedom of expression. That I disagree with you is immaterial. If necessary, I will die to ensure your rights. Your rights to insult me and my fellow servicemembers, to question and accuse my Commander-in-Chief, to burn the flag should you desire. All those, and more, I will protect with my life.

Can you wrap your head around it, yet? Try. And try again. And keep trying until your idea of me is shattered.

Or don't. I don't care either way. Your opinion of me has no bearing on the oath I took. My service is not predicated on whether those I serve think I'm a swell guy.

Just so's you know.

nonanarchist

*** This comment was posted from an IP associated with a disruptive poster. The MD5 hash of their IP is dcbfebfbdce. This value is the same even if the user uses another name. Only posters deemed disruptive by the editorial collective will have this text appended to their posts. We apologize for any erroneous misidentifications.
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