6 chapters across the catalog
GPS Black Boxes, Automotive Insurance Surveillance
Insurance providers in the Netherlands are introducing GPS "black boxes" that monitor driving habits in exchange for lower rates. The hosts warn that this technology, already present in many U.S. vehicles for airbag deployment, will eventually be used to deny insurance claims based on radio volume or other minor driving behaviors.
Chipping Granny and Buddy Tracking Devices
A new product in the UK called "Buddy" allows family members to track the GPS location of elderly relatives. The hosts mock the marketing of the device, which they dub "Chipping Granny," as a form of "slave jewelry" for the elderly. They discuss the normalization of constant surveillance under the guise of safety and peace of mind.
FBI GPS Tracking, Dead Cat Bounce, Privacy
An Arab-American student discovered an FBI GPS tracking device on his car, leading to a confrontation when agents demanded its return. The hosts discuss the legality of such surveillance and briefly mention financial analyst Mike Maloney's "dead cat bounce" theory regarding the future of the U.S. dollar.
GPS Vehicle Tracking, Ninth Circuit Court, Privacy Rights
A recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has made it legal for law enforcement to enter private driveways to attach GPS tracking devices to vehicles. The hosts discuss the implications for privacy and the disparity in how these laws affect people with gated properties versus those without.
Automotive Black Boxes, GPS Surveillance and Speeding Tickets
Proposed mandates for black boxes in all new vehicles are characterized as a tool for government surveillance and revenue collection. Predictions are made that authorities will eventually use GPS data from these devices during smog checks to issue retroactive speeding tickets based on average travel speeds.
The Dutch government is moving forward with a plan to install GPS-based "black boxes" in all automobiles by 2010 to facilitate a usage-based road tax. While officials claim the data is private, exceptions exist for "state security" and "terrorism prevention," effectively allowing total movement surveillance. The Netherlands is described as a "beta test" country for invasive technologies that eventually migrate to the United Kingdom and the United States.
