Immigration surveillance cameras found in hundreds of city lanterns

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) hid hidden surveillance cameras inside street lamps throughout the country, according to federal documents discovered by journalists. Quartz.

According to government procurement, since June 2018, the DEA paid the Houston, Texas-based company called Cowboy Streetlight Concealments LLC about $ 22 000 for "video recording and playback equipment." ICE paid about $ 28 000 Cowboy Streetlight Contsalments over the same time period.

It is unclear exactly where the hidden security cameras are installed, it is also unknown where they will be installed next time.

ICE offices in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio provided funding for recent purchases from Cowboy Streetlight Concesalments. DEA's recent purchases were funded by the Office of Investigative Technology, based in Lorton, Virginia.

Christie Crawford, owner of Cowboy Streetlight Concealments, with her husband, a Houston police officer, said she had no right to discuss the company's federal contracts in detail.

“I can tell you one thing - they are always monitoring what is happening. It doesn't matter if you're driving down the street or visiting a friend, if the government or law enforcement has a reason to monitor, there's great technology for it,” she said.

In addition to streetlights, the DEA also deployed hidden surveillance cameras inside traffic barriers. DEA also manages a network of digital speed signs, which contain automatic technology to read license plates in them.

Chad Marlowe, a senior attorney and policy adviser for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that efforts to deploy cameras in street lamps were suggested by local law enforcement, usually as part of a smart LED street lighting system.

The influence of surveillance cameras will increase as the development of face recognition algorithms is becoming more common among law enforcement agencies. Amazon is particularly interested in equipping cameras operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with face recognition.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Uber monitors customers even after the trip

What if a policeman stopped you

Can monkeys recognize themselves in the mirror?

Why American medicine benefits immigrants and even illegal immigrants

How many children were born to immigrants, tourists and illegal immigrants in the USA

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.