Chicago's CCTV network to be autonomously monitored starting this summer

Chicago residents are no strangers to the city's many CCTV cameras by this point -- if anyone knows exactly how long to stop at Roosevelt and State to avoid the red-light cam there, you let us know, okay? -- but it looks like this summer is going to bring a new twist to the city's surveillance racket: automated camera monitoring. Video from the several thousand cameras in Chicago's Operation Virtual Shield project currently comes into the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication's ops center, but starting this summer, it'll also be watched by an IBM-developed autonomous system that can be programmed to watch for specific activities or objects, like certain cars or unattended backpacks. Since the video is stored on a 60TB storage array for 30 days, law enforcement can also do retroactive searches using the tech. That's a huge step up from San Francisco's useless CCTV system, sure, but we've never really believed any of this stuff is actually effective at deterring crime -- hopefully we'll be proven wrong. Check out the full news vid at the read link.

[Via Boing Boing]

[Marcelo @ May 15th 2008 8:50PM]

What a joke. I wonder how many people will get police visits because a computer decided their car passed the intersection one too many times a day. Soon we'll be pulled over for having irregular traffic patterns.

[Mr.Tech @ May 16th 2008 7:07AM]

Hey they just need to work out the kinks. Window XP wasn't perfect but look at it now... it's usable because of the SP.

[OneLove @ May 16th 2008 3:13PM]

...SkyNet is watching you

[SK @ May 15th 2008 8:50PM]

Why don't they take a few dollars out of the CCTV budget in Chicago and buy a few copies of the US Constitution for these modern day "1984" "thought police" to read....

[Wonderkid @ May 15th 2008 8:51PM]

I find this reprehensible. What exactly are we stopping the terrorists destroying? If we introduce technology and monitoring that takes away our sense of privacy and dignity, then we're creating an environment that people are MORE likely to rebel against. If London and Chicago want to reduce crime and deter terrorism, how about some simply family values? Please please American people, see what this is about, terrorism is being used as an excuse to monitor everyday people. How many Arabs or other ethnic groups have walked into any establishment in the US (or London even) with a gun or knife or other weapon and shot the place up or attacked people? Not one. (All personal attacks are often drunk or dumb youths bought up on a diet of dumbed down TV programming and single parent families.) If the terrorists really hated us they would be revolting in the streets. The large attacks such as 9/11, Spain and 7/7 (UK) are massive political attacks and NOTHING can stop them. After all, if I pack a truck full of explosives outside any building, how on Earth are you going to know? Once agian, this is corporate 'Earth' slowly taking control of the populace, as so accurately envisioned in various movies and books of the 1930s and 1960s. Middle class America and UK, your freedom is being sucked away bit by bit, and when it's gone, you'll have a hell of a job getting it back.

[Adrian Williams @ May 15th 2008 9:13PM]

The Chicago one were at first used to try and stop drugdealers but as any drugdealer from Chicago would tell you is "all you have to do is stand directly underneath the camera

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 15th 2008 8:53PM]

I'm only commenting here 'cause it has to do with Chicago. Sorry :P

[AndrewNeo @ May 15th 2008 9:05PM]

I'm only modding you down because you're only posting because this has to do with Chicago. Sorry.

[Macha88 @ May 15th 2008 9:53PM]

@AndrewNeo:
I'm only modding you up because you're modding CUBSWILLWIN down because he's only posting because this has to do with Chicago.

[Hafk @ May 15th 2008 9:59PM]

Although I support the Chicago Cubs, I do not like how you posted in this thread just because of Chicago.

Therefore, I am not modding you at all.

[John @ May 15th 2008 10:53PM]

Both sides made such convincing arguments that I am sitting this one out.

[Johan S @ May 15th 2008 9:05PM]

For once, I hope they are using QVGA or less.

[austin @ May 15th 2008 9:53PM]

dude... no one gives a shit about your screen resolution bullshit.

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ May 15th 2008 10:30PM]

@austin: Dude, stfu. I agree with Johan... I also hate QVGA things, but hope this time they're using QVGA (on the cameras, not the screens)..

[Greg @ May 15th 2008 9:17PM]

I'm all for this actually. Camera's have helped solve a number of crimes in my area. There was a murder of a local highschool girl. They figured out what vehicles were involved. They found out where the kids used to hang out. Video from a grocery store camera showed them who was involved and allowed them to catch them.
In london CCTV helped prevent a rash of carbomb incedents and has cought other criminals.
Y'all do know that these things aren't just for terrorism right? If you do something bad, and the cops need to find you, this gives them eyes all over the damn place to find you.
For those hollering about 1984, these things aren't in your house. They're in the streets, public places where you shouldn't be doing bad things anyway.

[Greg @ May 16th 2008 12:50AM]

That's why there's a constitution. They're within their legal bounds to film you in the street. They're outside of it to film you in your home. There are rules for a reason.

[Si @ May 16th 2008 4:37AM]

'Britain has by far the most cameras in the world - about one for every 12 people' (telegraph).....try living here :( can't do a damn thing. Then again..if your not doing anything wrong then it doesn't really matter, if anything your safety is probably increased. Theres been a lot of crime solved by retracing the steps of the person and checking all the cameras that could have been on their route.

On the other hand, your business becomes everyone else's and even if you're not doing anything wrong....why should everyone know what your up to? where you are?

Mixed feelings.


'UK has 1% of world's population but 20% of its CCTV cameras' Hmmm.

[Vidit Bhargava @ May 15th 2008 9:17PM]

those cameras have been useless for years...so many shootouts and mugging incidents in the city in broad daylight...lets see what this new system will do.

[obsurfersocal @ May 15th 2008 9:37PM]

This is ridiculous, and seems un constitutional. Unbelievable that now the cities, states, and federal goverment think they can watch over us like were sheep? Seriously, someone needs to put a stop to this, the red light cameras are bad enough. You see, things like this have a domino effect. What's next? Cameras in homes to prevent domestic violence??

[austin @ May 15th 2008 9:55PM]

dont smoke. thats 7.00 you dont have to pay.

[bogdatov @ May 15th 2008 10:02PM]

You go on streets (or any public place) ... anybody (!!!) can look at you. Anybody. You do not complain and cry "oh, please-please-please ... don't look at me, give me some privacy ...". What is different with this system ? Instead of some stranger looking at you, there will be police officer looking at you, when somebody commits crime in that area. Big deal.

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ May 15th 2008 10:38PM]

The problem, is that they are not watching you, but TRACKING you.

Watching you with cameras, is analogous to having anyone just look at you, like you said... I would not mind if it was just that, it's logic, when you're in public you're always being watched by someone, no big deal...

But tracking you, is analogous to having someone walk with you all down your path, watching closely for whatever you pull out of your pocket/bag, looking and keeping note (in this case for 30 days) of whatever you do, whoever you meet, and whatever place you enter to.... I think this isn't right, if someone physically did that to me, I'd knock him off....

[ZeRo @ May 16th 2008 9:06AM]

To darklight

Who cares, if you got nothing to hide, you got nothing to worry.

[Nando @ May 15th 2008 10:26PM]

They are probably using MPEG-7 for this

[John @ May 15th 2008 11:02PM]

I don't smoke , but I still think that's ridiculous. Some people want to smoke, and since it's legal why is it being taxed to death?

[The_Steven @ May 15th 2008 11:13PM]

As an agent of Goldstein I do not welcome our CCTV overlords... Oh wait a second, there's a knock at the door...
...
...
...
Big Brother is our friend and wants us to be happy and safe.
Choco rations are up 25 percent, Double Plus Good!

[ZeRo @ May 15th 2008 11:16PM]

Dude you think you got it rough. I live near midway (For those unfamiliar with chicago, that is our second international airport). There are drug cameras, security camera, speed cameras ,airport cameras, cta (chicago transit authority) cameras, seriously whats an another camera?

As for those bitching about 1984, give that crap a rest. As long as you are in public , you have no privacy.

[eleazar123 @ May 15th 2008 11:19PM]

@John: It's legal BECAUSE they tax it. They know it's a cash cow, so they aren't going to make it illegal.

[ventivent @ May 15th 2008 11:48PM]

It's mid-May and it's only 45 degrees in Chicago. Dang, that sucks.

[Fatima @ May 16th 2008 12:28PM]

yes, yes it does

[Greg @ May 16th 2008 12:45AM]

What the hell are you people doing in public that you're afraid to be seen doing? There's nothing constitutionally protecting you from being watched in the streets. Unlawful search and seizure covers your house, not what you do in public.
If you're doing something illegal in public you should be caught doing it.
If this catches you doing something that might have hurt me or my loved ones, and you're stopped before you can do it, awseome.

[The_Steven @ May 16th 2008 1:07AM]

Some people simply wish to pass from "Point A" to "Point B" with no record of their passing. What is wrong with that? How would you feel if someone on the street took notes regarding all people who passed by them.

[Dave @ May 16th 2008 3:52AM]

How about a camera in the street pointed at your house? How's that sound? How about one in front of a public bathroom so people can find out whether or not you're regular. Perhaps they can have another computer automatically recommend fiber supplements.

Don't feel like playing golf with your buddy? Don't lie and say you've already made plans to go to a movie--he'll just log into the public access database and verify your story. Crazy girlfriend? Too bad. She can track you down.

Hey, how about a camera right in front of your kids' school? That way they'll be safe. You trust the people with access to that footage? How about if I take the footage? How does that sound? You don't have a problem with me filming your kids in a PUBLIC school do you? No reason you should, right?

[lnx @ May 16th 2008 5:30AM]

I really don't know how you can say that.

It shows the pure ignorance of people that come out with statements like that.

Do you really want every single move of yours monitored? You want people to know where you are 24/7? You want no move of yours to be unrecorded? Well, move to London mate, cus it's a hell of a lot worse there and you'll love it.

People like you that don't stand up for their RIGHT TO PRIVACY are the reason that nothing is ever done to stop this sort of thing.

Now run along, go eat your GMO food and fluoridated water and mutate for your masters in front of their cameras.

[lnx @ May 16th 2008 5:40AM]

Don't you just love that IBM is involved in everything big brother.

http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/

[Timmy @ May 16th 2008 9:03AM]

Don't forget about the licence plate reading camera for reading parked car's plates while driving, so as the Denver boot people drive down your street the can have their camera reading your plates while they eat their donuts and talking on their cellphones.

[Timmy @ May 16th 2008 9:11AM]

Can these recordings be sapeniaed (not sure if i spelled that right) for court so if your soon to be ex-wife's lawyer whats to prove you were at your girlfriends house instead of at your sickly mothers house can they get a judgment to get access to these recordings for civil actions?

[Timmy @ May 16th 2008 9:16AM]

Just call me run on.

[John @ May 16th 2008 10:04AM]

That's all great. But can it play DOOM?

[Jason @ May 16th 2008 10:59AM]

I am suprised no one has mentioned skynet......

Especially from the sounds of the other cameras that could be integrated into the IBM software.

Next you will see it controlling the stoplights, streetlights, and forwarding "crimes in progress" directly to the police.

[JoeBuzzz @ May 16th 2008 11:15AM]

"CCTV cameras capable of spotting criminals and known terrorist suspects through facial recognition technology are set to be deployed at Euston railway station in London, writes Dipesh Gadher."

"Ted Dunstone from the Biometrics Institute says the next generation of CCTV will be much more sophisticated, able to identify and track individual details, including the way people walk, the colour of their hair, their clothes. It will even be able to identify a person who seems nervous or agitated."

This is old news ('05-'07), and probably already implemented in Union Stations and airports in the US and UK.

Biometrics?! Poker faces, people!

[Chaminga @ May 17th 2008 11:40AM]

Chicago is a vary hostile place, oddly tho the hostility comes from the city and county govts and is directed at the citizans. The city and county rountinly disregard private property and many other laws. When any questions are raised the people and press are quickly placated with an angry responce. This is the normal cycle in the unhealthy relationship between the aggressive " officials " and the people that vote for them. I moved away from Chicago and continue to heal from the abusive experiance of living there. I ask all the level headed, hopeful people that remain to either leave or revolt, but DO NOT stay to be blamed for every thing that the sickos in city and county govt have caused.