Pennsylvania web cam spying - case study in how computers saved school, Blake Robbins

Urban School Justifies 
Web Cam 
Pennsylvania spy cam violates human dignity 
FBI investigating

FRONTLINE: digital nation: learning: schools: how google saved a school PBS

There are two problems with the spy cams in laptops sent home with students of Herriton Senior High School in Pennsylvania.  First, the Lower Marion School District didn't bother to tell the students they had the capability of remote viewing, much less viewing at all.  Second, even with disclosure, the cameras can be activated unilaterally, that is, by the school staff without the student knowing it.

You can bet when the school administor excitedly gave the news to the students about being one of the first schools to send laptops home with them he was grinning ear to ear like a chesire cat!  He must have known the spy technology was there and the school planned to use it yet he said nothing.  Laptop page here!

"Every high school student will have their own person laptop enabling an authentic movile 21st century learning environment"

Presumably, only two people were allowed to screen images taken without the student's permission.  That is a stretch of the truth, as we know the assistand vice principal of Herriton Senior High School Lindy Matsko presented Blake Robbins with a picture the school took of him while he feasted on Mike and Ikes candies in the privacy of his home.  Are there two photo people, one for each sex?  Or is looking at pics on the internet only a guy's thing?

"Coud there be something more to the smile?"

This represents a major breach of trust between Herriton faculty and the student population.  How can a young girl or a young boy know the smile on an administrator's face is based solely on good tidings towards the student?  Could there be something more to the smile?  Does the person know something maybe they should not?  Did the teacher or disciplinarian get a first hand peep at private parts or sexual activity?

What if one of those students got caught in homosexual activity and the administrator knows?  Not all administrators are liberal thinking, while others might try to pry when they should not.  We know that did not happen at Herriton Senior High School, but it will eventually happen somewhere if this trend continues. 

Actually, do we know it didn't happen at Herriton High? 

That is the problem.  We don't know. 



Presumably, the school staff is telling the truth about who had access to the videos.  However, when the staff violated, as in raped, the trust of the students by using this secret technology, all trust went out the window.  Trust is something earned, not bought or demanded.  It will take a long time for trust to grow, and for the smile on administrator's faces and likely for some, the thoughts behind the smiles to be taken seriously. 

"Let's let the students drop in on teacher and

 administrator lap tops"

The second problem with the spy cam is it can be activated without student consent and perhaps without student knowlede.  Even if a green light indicates the government is peeping in, one would have to be constantly vigilant to know exactly when the camera is activated.  Laptops would need to be carefully guarded and strategically placed to protect privacy.  That is an unfair task to put on anyone and eventually sure to fail.

If we are going put the task of constant vigilence upon the student body then it seems only fair to reciprocate.  Let's let the students drop in on teacher and administrator lap tops whenever they wish.  It would be interesting to see what really goes on in the teacher's lounge!  Violation of any kind always seem better to the person who violates than to the person violated.  Put the shoe on the other foot, tell us how it feels!

"Hey Mindy, yeah, Ms. Matsko, Uhh you might want to turn your computer off...or at least turn it the other direction.  There are people watching!"

The school in the public service Front Line video implies the ability to watch students saved the school. Such an interpretation is a stretch. What may have saved the schools was an introduction of modern day technology. Use of the cams is another matter.

At least the students understood the cams could be activated. In addition, the computers didn't leave the school as far as I can tell. That keeps the computers on the desk and not in bedrooms and private places. Activation is still an invasion of privacy, but at least the chances of catching an under age boy or girl in states of undress, or while he or she explores kissing and intimacy, are highly reduced when the computer stays in the school.

My vote, vote for Blake Robbins and the family that has the guts to stand up against unlawful instrusion.  Protect your privacy rights now.  If you don't, tomorrow will be too late!

Fly naked Should airport x-ray see your thing?

Underwear bomb fails

to take down jet bound for Detroit

A terrorist has placed your privacy at risk when a bomb hidden in his underwear failed to explode.

Abdul Mudallad hid a two part incendiary device, part liquid part powder, in his underwear and on his leg. Once the two substances were mixed together and an electric charge from a cell phone battery put to it, the contraption was supposed to blow up. It didn’t, but his failed effort may have a drastic effect on your privacy rights from now on.

The technology is ancient. Miners used to mix water with powdered carbide, put a flame to it, and abra cadabra, they had a light to guide their way through dark mine shafts.

There is an x-ray machine that would have allowed screeners to spot the device. Instead of simply detecting metal, it allows the screener to take a peek at things hidden under your pants or dress. Unfortunately, it also allows screeners to take a peek at everything else that clothes usually hide. That includes your penis, your vagina and your breasts.

If screeners have enough probable cause they can take a peek at all of your body parts anyway. They take you to a private room and force you to take off all of your clothes. Under certain circumstances they can put on the latex gloves. Since most people object to strip and body cavity searches, and since a strip search takes a lot of man power, and woman power, not many airline passengers suffer the indignity of invasive searches.

The Backscatter body scanner will do a nearly instant strip search on every person who walks through it. If security personal have their way, flying naked, so to speak, will be the only way they will let you on the jet. The machine can be toned down so the screener sees “fewer details” and outlines. They will still know on which side you place your thing. In some places which already use the machine, the face of the person is blotted out, so the intrusion is reduced from nudity with identity to just a peep show at your private parts.

What are the alternatives? How about learning how to fly starting from 37,000 feet? For most of us, if the blast from the exploding airliner does not kill you the 37,000 foot fall will. Most of us are not birds.

There is competing technology called millimeter wave scanning. It bounces waves off of those walking near it. Unlike the x-ray backscatter, screeners can take a look at larger groups. So now, lots of people effectively get naked all at once. At least the wave scanner shows fewer details of your body parts.

Another alternative is to be more selective about who we let on an aircraft. Perhaps we should cancel commercial flights altogether and leave flying to the rich who can afford to buy their own jets. The philosophy is, if they want to blow themselves up go to it, but don’t take innocent holiday travelers with them. The problem is, most of us can't afford a private jet.

Perhaps we are making too much of a simple thing. If you happen to know an airport screener personally, just don't get into a poker game with him. He will know when to call your bluf!

The solution to the problem is not easy. Even with trade offs between detection and privacy compromised, the fruit cases who want to change the world through violence will be looking for ways to do it. Sure we got lucky this time. Still, Abdul has had a dramatic effect on all of us. The options are limited, invasion of privacy by your government may be the only way to stay safe when traveling by jet.

PI spys on doc, lucky no prision says kevins security scrapbook

FL - A private investigator linked to illegal electronic surveillance of some doctors at the Florida Eye Institute in early 2008 has entered a plea that could spare her jail time.

Brenda Doan Johnson, of the 3400 block of Atlantic Boulevard, pleaded no contest on Tuesday as part of a deal reached with the State Attorney’s Office, her attorney, Andrew Metcalf said... Outside Hawley’s courtroom, Johnson tearfully said she apologizes to doctors Karen Todd, Val Zudans and Mark Gambee.


“I didn’t know this was illegal,” she said. A private investigator linked to illegal electronic surveillance of some doctors at the Florida Eye Institute in early 2008 has entered a plea that could spare her jail time.

Brenda Doan Johnson, of the 3400 block of Atlantic Boulevard, pleaded no contest on Tuesday as part of a deal reached with the State Attorney’s Office, her attorney, Andrew Metcalf said.

Circuit Judge Robert Hawley is scheduled to sentence her 1:30 p.m. Feb. 11.

None of the doctors were present as she entered the plea.

Outside Hawley’s courtroom, Johnson tearfully said she apologizes to doctors Karen Todd, Val Zudans and Mark Gambee.

“I didn’t know this was illegal,” she said.

The criminal case is the only one to come out of a deep disagreement between former Florida Eye Institute partners that led to a civil lawsuit and a breakup of the partners.

Doctors Zudans, Todd and Thomas Baudo successfully filed a multi-million-dollar civil lawsuit against then institute founder and director Dr. Paul Minotty, claiming he committed business fraud and unlawfully intercepted communications and invaded privacy at work.

A civil jury found Minotty liable for both, according to court records in the 2008 case.

Only Johnson was arrested on criminal charges.

In court on Tuesday, Assistant State Attorney Richard Seymour said Minotty brought in Johnson in 2007 after he became concerned that some of the doctors in the practice were out to get him.

“He felt like his physical life was in jeopardy,” Seymour told Hawley.

And, said Metcalf, “Minotty sought out Johnson and hired her.”

She said she hired a Melbourne security consultant who installed surveillance cameras in doctors’ offices at the institute on Indian River Boulevard.

When she found out that was illegal, she asked the Melbourne consultant to pull the equipment out, Metalf said.

But by then Gambee was tipped the survellance equipment was in place and police were called in to investigate, Metcalf said.

Initially Johnson defended Minotty, Metcalf said.

And what happened in the civil case is not a defense in the criminal case, Metcalf said.

Seymour could not be reached for comment after the hearing.

Johnson pleaded no contest to eight counts of unlawful interception of communications. Each is punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine, Hawley said.

Under the plea arrangement, she will not face any jail time if she abides by the agreement that includes not working as a private investigator
(Kevin's Security Scrapbook: PI claims "I didn't know" & cops a plea ...zzzzz

Be Careful What You Do In the Bathroom - New Hidden Cam will surprise you!

Be careful what you do in the bathroom these days. There is a new hidden spy cam that could catch you on your haunches, so to speak.

The tiny spy came made by Omejo is concealed in a toilet brush. This is a cool little digital video recorder (dvr) which does not need to be plugged in to work. Nor does it need an external memory device as the 8MG built into the camera is adequate for up to 4 hours of recording.

Omejo says the unit is perfect for police, CIA and detective work and is only available by 'special offer'. I suspect the CIA has more things to do than watch you poop, but in these times, one never knows.

The camera uses the AVI video format which is more difficult to work with than other video formats. It runs until the memory is used up then shuts off. It has an internal, rechargeable battery which is a popular item for consumers. I am not sure what they are going to say to the kids when they have a toilet brush connected to the computer, but I am sure they will think of something!

Depending upon how the spy cam is used, owners can expect one or two felony counts. The first is for invasion or privacy. It is illegal in most states to take pictures of people when they have the "expectation of privacy" offered in the bathroom. If the unit is used to record conversations, a second felony may be committed, as it is illegal in some states to record conversations unless both parties to the conversation are in agreement about the recording.

I am not sure how the law would view recording other noises common to toilet rooms if there were no human conversation!