Concerned citizens in Kentucky can report “suspicious activity” to their state branch of Homeland Security through an iPhone app. Called Eyes and Ears of Kentucky, the app is offered gratis on iTunes. The handiwork of developers NICUSA, it has been in the store since March 7. So far, it has not received enough reviews to reach an average rating. Through the app, you can report a suspicious incident or activity along with details about the alleged subjects and their vehicles. Gene Kiser, director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, said the iPhone application is the latest step to protect the state. Kiser told the Associated Press “putting the technology in people’s hands will allow the homeland security office to receive the most current information on threats.” My first thought: forget about terrorists, this app is perfect for vendettas large and small. Ex-paramours, evil bosses, neighbors you hate, report them anonymously and watch them squirm. What are the consequences for crying wolf, especially if the claim is as vague as “suspicious activity?” There is no way this could possibly go wrong/be misused, right guys? Right? Sauce: http://www.cultofmac.com/88842/reporting-suspicious-activity-theres-a-homeland-security-app-for-that/88842/#F6rhbmTOj5mwbu1O.99
To me is sounds like this app is perfect for vendettas against homland security. Just report a bunch of fake crimes. In fact, even if people aren't doing this to fuck with them, all this app will do is flood them with fake reports by paranoid rednecks and cause their response time double.
Everything can be abused, it is just a matter of if there is enough intelligent people in government to realize when shit is serious or just a prank. Like at my school, there is one sketch looking guy (whose behavior is that of a mentally insane person) who I want to report all the time (but don't ever). Secondly @Stormtrooper, this technology is the kind of things we support in our idealized self regulating "police state" that creates a system of structural violence towards criminals. However, our society is not anywhere near that idealized "police state" but rather a giant prison. This is a poem I wrote on the most powerful strain of LSD one can make "Fuck the system, build your own. Build a prison, old system's home."
>1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA >What happened: Suspicious activity Well no fucking shit, Sherlock. Look where you are.
The vilest deeds, like poison weeds, Bloom well in prison air; It is only what is good in Man That wastes and withers there; Pale Anguish keeps the heavy gate, And the Warder is Despair.
