What for long seem to have been a domain for larger organizations (when did you last time read the small print in your employment contract written in”Enron Beelzebub”) - to extent the CCTV camera surveillance from public spaces into the corporate world - now, thanks to ATT, will become available as an off-the-shelf service to any corner-shop in town.
As the NY Times today reports ATT is planning to sell a standardized service to enable owners of SMEs to monitor their staff:
“…Under AT&T’s Remote Monitor program, a business owner could install adjustable cameras, door sensors and other gadgets at up to five different company locations across the country.
Using a Java-enabled mobile device or a personal computer connected to the Internet, the owner would be able to view any of the images in real time, control room lighting and track equipment temperatures remotely. All the images are recorded on digital video, which can be viewed for up to 30 days…”
It looks like big brother is coming to town big time. While there might be quite some legit uses that would potentially justify such “services”, insurance claims, protection against harassment and other “behavioral mistreatment” might come to mind - but then who will get access to this data?
BTW - what actually was ATT’s role within “some” of the NSA activities before 9-11-2001 just recently reported by the same newspaper?
“…Equipment costs range from $199 for a fixed camera starter kit in a single location to $349 for multiple cameras including ones that will pan or tilt. Monthly monitoring charges range from $9.95 for a single location to $39.95 for five locations…“
That’s what I call creative financing by the Government - you pay for being under surveillance 24/7 and if something goes wrong the material will be used against you…
…and staff morale got to an all-time-low after we installed this great surveillance system. Now we really need such a system because with all the new staff we recently got to replace some of those that left and all the others completely disgruntled - well there is no trust - I tell you - no trust anymore…they are all kind-of-thiefs you know…
(”fictional” interview answer from a shop owner after installing and running surveillance cameras for some time)
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