Ottawa Airport Wired with Microphones to Record Travelers’ Conversations
June 17th, 2012Update: Public Safety Minister Orders End to Airport Eavesdropping Pending Privacy Review
Via: Calgary Herald:
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has ordered officials to halt the planned electronic eavesdropping on air travellers’ conversations until a full privacy review is completed.
“We have heard concerns from Canadians regarding the privacy impact of this practice,” Public Safety spokeswoman Julie Carmichael said in written statement Tuesday.
“Minister Toews has directed the CBSA to halt audio monitoring until a privacy impact assessment can be submitted, and recommendations from the privacy commissioner can be reviewed by the government.”
The move comes one day after Toews, responding to opposition questions in the Commons Monday, defended the planned audio surveillance of air travellers and airport employees at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
—End Update—
Via: Ottawa Citizen:
Sections of the Ottawa airport are now wired with microphones that can eavesdrop on travellers’ conversations.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is nearing completion of a $500,000 upgrade of old video cameras used to monitor its new “customs controlled areas,” including the primary inspection area for arriving international passengers.
As part of the work, the agency is introducing audio-monitoring equipment as well.
“It is important to note that even though audio technology is installed, no audio is recorded at this time. It will become functional at a later date,” CBSA spokesman Chris Kealey said in a written statement.
But whenever that occurs, the technology, “will record conversations,” the agency said in a separate statement in response to Citizen questions.
Research Credit: almaverdad2
Two years hence, at LAX. Last known (and recorded) words of a jetlagged pookie, inching forward slowly in a long line, before she is apprehended and disappeared. “Jaysus, honey, look at that obese slob of a customs agent, waddling around scowling and barking at us serfs in line. And isn’t that a squashed Twinkie in her back pocket? My gawd, it is. And she just dropped her box of Milk Duds, but look, she’s too freakin’ fat to bend down to pick it up. And that obedient serf in line ahead of us is being polite and trying to pick it up for her, but … toooo funny, she thinks he’s trying to pinch her Duds, so she’s pointing and screaming at him to get back into line, and, holy shit!, now the ninja JBTs are storming over here intent on taking down a terrist. Security theater at its best, eh? I wonder if we’ll make our connection.”