Spying on people by utility workers

[TNDadx4]

Apparently utility workers are being trained in some areas to look for certain things and then alert the "proper people"

This may or may not be news to some of you, but it was to me, so I wanted to mention it.

http://www.dailynewscaster.com/2008/08/24/operation-bright-eyes-tattle-tale-utility-workers-spying-on-customers/

[rice paddy daddy]

Florida has had this since 9/11. Because of my dogs and fenced yard, the electric meter is read from the street. My water comes from a well in my yard. My gas stove runs off propane canisters I have filled at the hardware store in town.
There is no reason for anyone to be on my property without a warrant.
And yes, I always have a handgun or two strapped on my hip whenever I'm out in the yard, even just walking to the mailbox. ;D
That keeps people away. ;)

[tufhelp]

They have been doing similar spying here in Albuquerque for years. The initial intent was to report zoning variances, trashy yards, vehicles to long on blocks or in disassembled states, citing construction without permits and the growing of restricted herbs in back yards… They enlisted the “help” of the meter readers and the trash collectors by offering a bounty for their reports. Recently they have discussed putting TV cameras on the garbage trucks so the can watch the city provided trash receptacles empty into the truck to spot “unauthorized” dumping as the automated dumping mechanism performs its duty. Oh Big Brother, could you come in here for a moment…

[CarolAnn]

I was particularly interested in the discussion below the article. One side said, 'If you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about. They help people by reporting break-ins, accidents, house fires, etc."

The problem is, do we believe justice is always the end result? Do we believe laws are always just and fair, and never used against a particular group for means other than which the laws were intended? Do we believe the innocent are never punished in this country? Of course not! We're humans with human fallibility and faults.

The cable guy needs no training to report a house fire, an old lady laying on the grass with a broken hip, or the fact that some criminal is cutting out the screen on your basement window. Reporting those things is basic human decency and would happen anyway if the cable or utility person has any character at all. The slippery slope that this article points out is that when someone in power has evil intentions, they can use this group as a means to harass or silence people they don't like.

[OzarkMtnDaredevil]

Very well put, CarolAnn.

[dorothyl]

the county tax auditors here are reuping everyones property taxes . found one of their "sub contracted employes" walking around the back of my house & looking into the windows. another one had a tape measure measuring my home. they then wanted in to inspect the inside for updates. told them to leave now was none of their business when & what updates were done.they said if i didnt let them in they were told to call police to be let in *i told them call away they are not coming in. they left after leaving a paper ,that i threw in the fireplace said i was to fill it out & mail to county tax auditors. also have township ditch mowers who think it is fine to come behind the house & inspect my wood pile.is none of their business either how many cords of wood & what kind it is.

[Boris859]

Not really a big deal if you ask me,as long as they are only doing trained "observing"but if they push the boundry of observation into actual snooping that would be a huge problem.and to be truthful alot of this observation already goes on,after all could you actually think of a utility worker that would see an old lady laying hurt in the yard and not do anything about it?I would hope not,and if you are on the right side of the law ,you have nothing to worry about anyway. :)

[sethwyo]

Back in the day of the 'land line' telephone there wore systems installed to make the telephone to be used as a microphone, Enabling big brother to be able to listen in to what ever was being said Even around the home or business By people who wornt even on the phone but within hearing distance.

Today every Email and phone call is processed through a supercomputer.
There are reverse cameras in every tv and computer screen manufactured after '94 (i think 94) That are all connected to a super computer.

There are mini cameras, microphones, survailence drones, and satilites. And the most usful, most destructive of our rights TOOL 'thay' have, other people, neighbors, family and others who will call in and report suspiciousness.

You cnt run or hide.

[dkemple1]

I think this is pitiful. We are under constant scrutiny anymore. People who are saying that if you aren't doing anything wrong, then you shouldn't worry about it. Is it okay to watch them having sex although they are not doing anything wrong? How would they like THAT ? I came home one time last year and there was a person measuring my house, and then they asked me how come I got my house so cheap. I told them that it was tore all to hell and I had to remodel it. This was true, but I wish that I hadn't have told them anything now.

[Buck]

This thread tickles me really! ;D ;D

all this ballyhoo about workers 'spying' on citizens is small potatos
compared to what folk's had to live with in the past. Privacy was just
a word back then.

Get a grip people!! ::)

[MNMOM]

Buck, we're not living in yesterday.

This seems to infringe on the Fourth Amendment

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[CarolAnn]

It DOES infringe on the fourth Amendment! Our constitution has really gotten ripped up in the last few years.

Also you do NOT have to be guilty to LOOK guilty!

In 1976, I was a Girl Scout leader. My husband and I had just bought a big old house in Iowa and our best friends were going through a messy divorce. They couldn't agree on who got the furniture, so since we had space, they let us use it until they could figure it out. When one of the girls was digging in the cushions for change, she came up with a bag of green stuff! Picture how that would have gone over if the small town gossips had gotten the news that the new GS leader had a bag of pot in her couch! Talk about a bad moment! I said, "Oh that must be his new pipe tobacco. He's been looking for it." and put it up until the girls left. Then I called the friends and reamed them out for putting us in that situation.

If it was a snoopy phone or cable guy - who'd believe us?! Yeah, right - it's not MINE? I could have lost not only my reputation and my Girl Scout troop, but my home.

[cinok]

yep the only way to escape is a lot of tinfoil and no electronics.Come lets get real there are surveillance cameras and such but nobody is watching you from inside your TV or computer and the cable guy is an agent of the government if you really believe this there's a word for it actually 2 PARANIOD SCHIZOPHRENIA and a good shrink and some drugs can help

[crafty2002]

cinok, I was out playing ball with my grandsons a few days ago when I noticed the telephone van again down the road at one of those telephone boxes.
I am disabled and playing ball with the kids isn't something I need to do and I try to be as careful as I can, but I always end up hurting my hip in a few minutes. I usally get them started and set down in a folding chair I carry out there.
Well, I saw a gleamer of light from the drivers side door of the van. A reflection of light. I just hobbled inside and got the .22 rifle that has a 4 x 12 x 50mm scope on it and snuck out the back door and around to the front corner house. Sure enough the guy in the van was setting there with binoculars looking up the road.
I expected the cops to be at the house very shortly because not thinking that I was actually pointing a rifle at him, even tho I was just using the scope to look at him, when I saw he was really looking I walked out so he could see me look at him.
He was gone as fast as he could get gone and he went the long way around instead of past my house.
That may have been last week. Either that or Monday of this week.
That van goes down there every few days and sets there for hours on end but I haven't seen it back since then.
The next time I see it down there I am going to walk up on him from behind and see what he is doing.
I don't think they have camera's in TV's and everything go through supercomputors, but they do spy on you.
Atleast I caught one looking at me.
Dennis

[rivahmom]

This is nothing new. In 1991 I worked in the commisioner of revenues office as my summer job. Every year the comissioner would drive over the whole county with a camcorder recording all of the properties so they could be properly taxed. Often utility workers would tip him off and he would make special trips out. When watching some of the videos, I noticed he recorded alot of info about their houses and a few shot were of inside of homes. What is scary is we only assesed cars, trailers, boats, and RVs.

[333]

Peace,

Getting the mobocracy to spy is nothing new for sure.

yep the only way to escape is a lot of tinfoil and no electronics.Come lets get real there are surveillance cameras and such but nobody is watching you from inside your TV or computer and the cable guy is an agent of the government if you really believe this there's a word for it actually 2 PARANIOD SCHIZOPHRENIA and a good shrink and some drugs can help

Speaking from the position, who has personally installed thousands of security, surveillance, and "dish" systems in the last 15-20 years respectively.

All the technology exists and functions as designed to remote view and data collect. Of course only certain "clients" choose to "spy" on their own properties or interests, ie: mini marts , financial institutions, etc where ever you "see" the little "domes" in the ceiling, or the "bullet IR " cams on the gas pump. The chances are good not only is video being DVR
recorded, audio as well if the owner chooses to enable in his system setup.

As far as there being a camera in your dtv receiver with audio capability, so you can be "spied" on with out your knowledge?

Lets just say that the only thing missing for that to occur is precisely the 2mm digital camera. Some of these devices are 3/8 inch lapel cams, fake smoke detectors with cam, fake motion detectors, thermostats, light switches etc.

Its not paranoia its fact these things exist. Are they in your dtv, tv, pc, or dvd player? I haven't found one....... yet.

;D

333

[macgeoghagen]

google is spying on you and making it public. see google earth for details. if you live in or near a town of more than about 500 people your property is probably on there.

[IrishGoddess]

I just don't know about this one. I am torn between Big Brother in my business and the protection of me and mine. What a quandary. ??? If I think of all the things that have been said on my phones, oye vey ::) I have the mindset that it isn't anyones business but if there is a meth lab down the block from my house and no one but the phone guy knows, I would kinda appreciate it if something was done about it before my kids and house get blown to Kansas. (No offense to Kansas or the people living in it, it is a fine state ;D) What to do, what to do? Someone please share with me some more of the pros and cons. I am up in the air here.