-Caveat Lector- From: GILC Alert Volume 5, Issue 4 June 26, 2001 Global Internet Liberty Campaign Newsletter. Smart beds, shirts and cars spark privacy concerns ======================================================== Various new products may allow you to be monitored wherever you go-whether you are walking on the street, in your car, or even while you sleep. VivoMetric's Lifeshirt, for example, contains embedded sensors that continuously monitor 40 physiological signs of sickness and health while it is worn. This data is recorded, sent over the Internet, and logged at the VivoMetrics Data Center. Other new products on the market raising privacy concerns include a wrist camera that can take pictures and record up to 100 phone numbers, as well as a GPS Pathfinder watch that can pinpoint your exact latitude, longitude, altitude, and speed using orbiting satellites. In addition, a new computerized multimedia bed turns its computer screen ceiling off when it senses when you've fallen asleep. It can also detect if you've stopped breathing and will set off a series of alarms. Meanwhile, rental car companies have begun to track their customers and, in at least one case, have started to give out private speeding tickets. In the US, Acme Rent-a-Car installed a GPS device on one of its cars and monitored how quickly one of its customers was driving. Acme charged that customer, James Turner, an extra US $450 for driving at what it deemed an excessively high speed, and even pointed out the exact location where he had done so. Turner responded by suing in small claims court, as well as filing a complaint with his state Department of Consumer Protection. However, it is not precisely clear if current laws can protect consumers when any of the aforementioned devices are used for detrimental purposes. David Sobel from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC-a GILC member) pointed out that the "challenge right now is to ensure, before these services and capabilities are widely deployed, that rules are in place." For more on the Turner rental car tracking case, read Robert Lemos, "Car spy pushes privacy limit," ZDNet News, June 20, 2001 at http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2778752,00.html For more on LifeShirt and other similar devices, read Larry Hardesty, "Innovation: Clothed in Health," Technology Review, July/August 2001 issue, at http://www.technologyreview.com/magazine/jul01/innovation8.asp For the manufacturer's explanation of how LifeShirt works, click http://www.vivometrics.com/Products/index.html For more on smart watches, read Anthony Zurcher, "Fast Forward: Wearing the Net on Your Wrist," Washington Post, May 11, 2001, page E1 at http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12678-2001May10.html For more on smart beds, see "Sleep With Your Computer?" ABC Good Morning America, Apr. 10, 2001 at http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA010409_MITbed.html Further details on Telematics Net tracking of cars are available from Eric Young, "Car 540819, Where Are You?" The Industry Standard, Apr. 23, 2001 at http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,23635,00.html <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
