Creepy technology that could place your city under pervasive surveillance
Memphis, Tennessee-based ESI Companies, Inc. is behind a quite creepy technology platform they call SkyCop, capable of enabling widespread, long-term surveillance across entire cities.
SkyCop is just one of many aspects of the massive rise of video surveillance, including cloud-based video surveillance, in cities across the world. One must also consider the rise of technologies like behavioral recognition along with a massive increase in the deployment of facial recognition in everything from mannequins in retail stores to border crossings and more.
While SkyCop sounds thoroughly futuristic as it integrates fusion centers, mobile surveillance systems, remote video systems, vehicle license plate and surveillance systems, digital recording systems and wireless communication, it has already been deployed in some areas.
The platform was originally developed in 2007 in concert with the Memphis Police Department, according to ESI Companies, as part of the police department’s Blue Crush Initiative.
While ESI seems to imply that “a dramatic decrease in criminal activity in critical ‘hot’ spots for crime and has increased conviction rates” is linked to their platform by pointing out that it happened after Memphis implemented SkyCop, this might not be the case.
One must point out that here has actually been a recent surge in some violent crime rates and, according to reports, the Blue Crush program “was used only sparingly for much of the past year,” largely due to budgetary constraints.