The Spy-Tech Boom

[furtherfield]

The Spy-Tech Boom


One of the first widespread security technologies to be discussed after the
Sept. 11 attacks was face recognition software in airports. Almost
immediately after the terrorist attacks, two providers of this software -
Visionis and Viisage - started marketing their products as terror prevention
solutions.


"Their publicity stunt worked," said Chris Hoofnagle of the Electronic
Privacy Information Center (EPIC) in a Nov. 2001 interview with the
Multinational Monitor. "Their stock prices doubled very quickly, and it
appeared as though different public transportation centers would adopt the
technology. In fact, Oakland International Airport has."


Since then, various other airports including Dallas, Rhode Island and Boston
and other tourist destinations including the Virginia Beach oceanfront and a
Tampa nighlife district have purchased facial recognition systems. One of
the main beneficiaries has been Pelco Inc., the world's largest maker of
video security systems.


http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16009