Understanding Surveillance Technologies: Spy Devices, Privacy, History & Applications (revised and expanded second edition)

Understanding Surveillance Technologies demystifies spy devices and describes how technology is used to observe and record intimate details of people’s lives—often without their knowledge or consent. From historical origins to current applications, it explains how satellites, pinhole cameras, cell phone and credit card logs, DNA kits, tiny microphones (“bugs”), chemical sniffers, and implanted RF/ID chips have enabled us to create a two-edged sword—devices that promise security while, at the same time, eroding our privacy. Understanding Surveillance Technologies is profusely illustrated with extensive references and indexes, laying the groundwork for more specialized texts on specific technologies. It covers each of the major sensing devices and explains how they are used in civilian, criminal justice, scientific, national security, and military applications. It also includes recent changes in legislation and the organization of the intelligence community, and discusses how equal access to high-tech sensing devices and encryption schemes has changed society. Understanding Surveillance Technologies is modular, so the chapters can be read in any order, and is written in an accessible, somewhat narrative style, to suit the needs of journalists/newscasters, privacy organizations, educators, civic planners, and technology centers. It is appropriate as an adjunct reference for criminal justice/law enforcement/military, and forensic trainees, and as a textbook for courses in Surveillance Studies, Sociology, Communications, and Political Science. Now in its second edition, with 1,000 pages and more than 700 diagrams, it is still the only text that comprehensively conveys the breadth of the field. This book sets the groundwork for understanding surveillance technologies by describing contemporary devices and current legislation in their historical context. These stepping stones will make it easier to understand more specialized texts on radar, sonar, video cameras, satellite imaging, and genetic profiling. Understanding Surveillance Technologies is the first comprehensive, introductory overview of the field of surveillance devices, first published in 2000 and remains the only comprehensive text on the subject. It comprises 18 chapters with more than 700 photos and illustrations and is suitable for college surveillance studies in sociology and political science, professional recruiting programs, and as a reference for beginning professionals in the fields of law enforcement, forensics, and military surveillance. It is also an indispensable reference for journalists, lawmakers, and community planners. It has been designed with a flexible, modular format so the chapters can be read in almost any order (chapters that share common topics are cross-referenced to alert the reader) section 1. Introduction 1. Introduction & overview section 2. Acoustic surveillance 2. Audio 3. Infra/ultrasound 4. Sonar section 3. Electromagnetic surveillance 5. Radio 6. Radar 7. Infrared 8. Visual 9. Aerial 10. Ultraviolet 11. X-rays section 4. Chemical & biological surveillance 12. Chemical & biological 13. Biometrics 14. Animals 15. Genetics section 5. Miscellaneous surveillance 16. Magnetic 17. Cryptologic 18. Computers section 6. Index. Reflects developments in aerial, radio, and telecommunications that affect government, local security, and corporations. This book features information on RFID chips, face recognition systems, Homeland Security initiatives and legislation, mass surveillance methods, voice over IP technology, higher resolution satellite images, and radar imaging. Understanding Surveillance Technologies demystifies spy devices and describes how technology is used to observe and record intimate details of people‘s lives often without their knowledge or consent. From historical origins to current applications, it explains how satellites, pinhole cameras, cell phone and credit card logs, DNA kits, tiny m