Nanny State Strikes in Boston: Thermal Cameras Could Show Activity Occurring Inside Homes
- Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:48pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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WBZ-TV reports:
A thermal imaging project in the city of Boston has been put on hold because of privacy concerns.
Boston officials had hoped to have aerial and street-level photos taken across about four square miles of the city this winter using infrared cameras that would show heat loss in the city homes.
Officials planned on sharing the photos and analysis with homeowners, and were hoping the findings would increase enrollment in efficiency programs and also create business opportunities.
But, the project hit a snag when the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts raised concerns that the infrared cameras would reveal information about what’s going on inside the homes. Sagewell’s cameras can take up to 20,000 images of homes per day.
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Comments (164)
stmike
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:31pmIt doesn‘t matter what level of government you’re talking about its not their job to worry about how energy efficient anybody’s home is! And what was their plan if they just arbitrarily decided your home wasn’t up to their standards? These people who came up with this garbage should be locked up!
Report Post »SocialistSlayer
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:07pmThe government has gotten out of control. Keep pushing it and people will revolt!
Report Post »delhoghe
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:29pmFor all of you liberal bashers I have a few questions : 1) who was thermal imaging invented for ? 2) who was the G.P.S.S invented for ? 3) who was night vision technology invented for ? 4) who was a taser invented for ? 5) how many liberal school teachers, union activists, social workers, congressmen,senators use any of those things on a regular basis as part of their daily routine ? I‘m a liberal and I’ve never spied on my neighbors or given any information to law enforcement concerning my neighbors. Technology is first and foremost invented and deployed for military purposes. I am not of the belief that our armed forces are crawling with liberals.
Report Post »stmike
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:40pmThis isn’t a liberal vs conservative thing. This is an out of control government thing. People from both parties and on both ends of the political spectrum are guilty of things like this. This is why big government with lots of agencies and unelected officials are bad.
Report Post »delhoghe
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 6:02pmSTMIKE… I agree with you 100%.
Report Post »2ndChron714
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:45pmDelhoghe~~~ Spoken like a true liberal. 0 substance. You made a pretty poor straw argument: Not one post on here is complaining about GPS or Thermal Camera technology. So what if the military invented them? They have bettered our lives and saved lives of our soldiers as well as civilians in war zones. What we are pissed about is a) an overbearing government intruding into our lives (or having the ability to, if we piss the wrong group off b) paying taxes for something that is not needed when we are broke c) the end-game of this: government finding ANOTHER way to tax us (carbon emmissions) or force us to purchase new windows if our old ones are leaking. I’m not an idiot, paying my electric bill sucks, if the investment is a wise one I’ll upgrade my windows with having some unionized beurocrat (another tax drag) telling me to.
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:20pmIs this another argument for “going green”? So perverts can see what happens in our bedrooms just like they do at the airports as they fondle our innocents and anyone else that dares to fly the united skies. We have the technology to see everything, why not give p all of our rights to privacy? It’s a good cause….. Choke!
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:19pmCan we use this on caves in Pakistan?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:42pm@ULYSSESP ~~~~ Can we also use it on:
1. the White House?
2. Congressional behind-the-closed-door meetings?
3. the golf bags with the WH?
4. late night “snacks” at the WH where all sorts of invited guests sneak in and out?
We’d just be doing due diligence on our tax payments, right?????
Report Post »curtmavi38
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:19pmMy DEAR LORD, the world is going stark raving crazzy. Put these lunatics to work so they won’t have time to think up these crazzy things.meh
Report Post »Fight for America
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:17pmBig Brother strikes again and the American people are naive enough to let it happen. C’mon people – this can be abused big time.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:44pmI didnt know that they asked us about this? Did you see it on the ballot in 2010? I cant remember us “letting” this happen. Our govt is operating outside of its boundaries and not by our choice.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:15pmToo bad they didn’t have this technology in the area over 40 years ago. They might of spotted Mary Jo in the Olds still alive when the “Liberal Lion of the Senate” ran away and left her to drown.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:21pmThats an excellent point TED. But remember, she would have been proud of old TEd and all the things he accomplished after her voluntary manslaughtering at the hands of the “liberal lion”.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:09pmare they going to tell me i have to close my window all winter ?????
in my perfect reality, it would end this way…………………..with all big government politicians rounded up , including all the idiot professors and teachers and removed from positions of authority and relegated to an island all by themselves
they can take the greenies and global warming idiots with them
put them in cuba or somewhere where they cant get away and see how long they last lol
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:22pmThen we could nuke that island!
Report Post »MHP
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:27pmHow bout they be put in the ground
Report Post »MeTube
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:07pmHow much $ spent on this?
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:33pmThey used all of the savings from romneycare for these. Cant wait till obamacare provides all the savings so these can come to my state!
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:06pmMaybe if we could install some of these in the White House, and the living quarters of every member of Congress, and put a live online link to it…
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:06pmC’mon, it’s not like they would use it for anything but good things.
Report Post »earthrise
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:43amhmmm…. and i still believe in the tooth fairy. ;)
Report Post »SgtGGP
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:03pmTalk about the life in Massachusetts,
Speak about the people I have seen,
And the lights all went out in Massachusetts
And Massachusetts is one place I have seen.
I will remember Massachusetts…cause you don’t need the lights to see the people of The Commonwealth of “Peek a boo I see you” Massachusetts” TSA employees can vacation at half price!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:03pmLet‘s hope they don’t zoom in on Barney’s house.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:30pmWould just image a big lump of man bodies.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:00pmThey‘re spying on Teresa and John Effin Kerry goin’ at it on Beacon Hill.
Report Post »Ewww.
SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:13pmWhy the long face?
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:28pmSLAPTHELEFT
Tee hee hee that was funny;)
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:32pmHaHA. I do enjoy your comments as well.
Report Post »TexasProgressive
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:59pmY’all are too much. If the gov’t has a program to make your houses more energy efficient, that is too much for you??? You better put your tin foil hats on for the scan,
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:12pmYou were probably one of the first ones screaming about warrantless wiretaps under GWB. Now under the blanket excuse of energy efficiency you are OK with the Gov looking into your house whenever they want. You progressives are a rare and unlovely breed.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:12pmHow about just scheduling an energy audit? Is that too much for you, misplaced texan?
Why would we be doing things of this nature if not to illegally spy on citizens? Dont we pay for our heating bills? WHOA DOGGY, i got an idea… how about the govt just use these scanners for homes that are subsidized by the govt so we can see how much hot smoke is coming out of section 8 drug addicts windows? That way we can minimize the amount of “assistance” we have to pay for so some crackhead can live cost free?
See, tex progess, I knew we could get on the same page. As for me I pay for myself, so no audit is needed.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:17pmSorry to monopolize this thread, but the private sector has been doing energy audits for years. Have you used them yet? Oh you were waiting for the free one, I got it. Tupical lib progressive needs a hand to hold. MAMA, MAMA!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:20pmI left that remodle a year ago, where are you in yours? How about I take this here infrared camera and sit outside your place for a year or so, just to help you discover what I’m gonna require you to fix. including your spouses gravity problem.
Report Post »Progressives: the party of do as I say not as I do.
MHP
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:28pmDon’t touch my junk
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:59pmFinally an occasion when I can agree with the detested ACLU!
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:06pmDont get too excited. your agreement will be short lived.
Report Post »wayne duffin
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:59pmThis is just the beginning. It will escalate from here.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:57pmBig brother knows no boundaries. Some time ago I read they were using these thermal imaging cameras in England find and more importantly to fine “energy wasters”.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:56pmIf Boston has that kind of money to spend, why don’t they put the cameras on the Texas BORDER? Texas law enforcement has online cameras! They need more.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:37pm@SHOWTIME ~~~ Gee, if they did that, they’d have to work for real!
This way they can just “watch” and be perverts.
Personally, I think we all should secede from the UNION (no pun intended) and reform our Republic.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:56pmGlenn warned us about this. He said it would be tried or done (not specifically this but you got the jest if you were paying attention). The left is trying to control every part of our lives.
Report Post »anyonelisteneing
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:54pmAnyone but me notice how liberals use some “common good” excuse when they take away a freedom ot invade your privacy.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:24pmThat is the way of communists.
Report Post »kathy
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:54pmSounds like something they would do in MA. Good ole MA, lets do all we can to keep everyone in line!!
Report Post »stinkybisquit
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:54pmThe only good thing: I could finally nail that damned mouse that keeps eluding the trap. Otherwise, they would be sadly disappointed at my house.
Report Post »Leadthemtothelight
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:52pmHmmm where will they draw the line? How much freedom are we willing to give up?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:05pmI’m long past my point ….. TEA!
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:05pmNone. Of course thats what the oath of office was meant to represent.
That damn pesky little constitution keeps getting in the way. I got an idea, lets just ignore it and act like its not there!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:16pmI’m for redeistibution of my freedoms back to me !
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 10:09pmYou ask ‘How much freedom are we willing to give up?’
Their Answer,,,‘all of it’
My Answer,,,,‘NONE’
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 4:52pmonly in a lib bean town
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:01pmWhere do I sign up? Hopefully a thermal image will show all of the endowments I have been created with and will help me to find a date….
This is what its comin to folks. Schedule your day off in advance for Nov. 2, 2012.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:04pmOh I can think of a lot of LIBERAL towns that would like to do this …. imagine you are in your bedroom — what might they see …. perverts
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:07pmTheyve been lobbying for these in san francisco for years!
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:11pm1984 has arrived and past, yet here we are right in it.
Report Post »redneck
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:13pmOne way to figure out who’s hot for who!
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:19pmWhen I’m in Boston, I don’t see any homes, I see multi-storied apartments and condos. Street level camera’s single out individual unit for any length of time has privacy concerns. Hey while we’re there, lets turn on the scanner, to get conversations along with the imaging. Too Cool. Especially in a liberal city. Find out what they say about Kerry!
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:30pmBetween the nude scanners in airports and the “let me see what your hidin’” scanners in Boston. It isn‘t going to leave much to the imagination about what any of us are packin’ huh????? All in the name of security and “protecting” the environment.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:35pmI would say I will allow this when we watch the Governor’s mansions and the white house, FBI, CIA, Congress and their homes and families. When we do that then I will approve. But I feel pretty safe in saying that will never happen.
Report Post »marhee9
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:42pmWow! They keep taking more liberties by the day. All in the name of “social justice” for all, whether we want it or not. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68uzsXdMLS4
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:47pmWatch V for Vendetta if you want an idea of the world we are headed into… of all the sci fi/ future movies trying to predict what our world will be like this one is closest(with hints of 1984)….youtube.com/watch?v=W2ty3b4EBMg
Report Post »lemmings4obama
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 6:05pmSomeone at 3M will be inventing mylar backed wall paper soon… If not, I will.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 6:35pmAm I stuck in some political sci-fy nightmare and you are all a part of it???
Report Post »Someone please wake me up!!!
Rearden Steel
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 6:36pmI view thermal imaging of my house the same as I view peeking in my windows. If it happens here I’m building a large sign with heated text saying “If you can read this sign you‘ve got 10 seconds to get beyond the effective range of what I’m holding in my right hand.”
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 6:41pmBefore you snap that picture, you better have a signed warrant in your hot little hand.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 6:50pmaha..barney frank can hardly wait…
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:24pmI lived in Phoenix for 10 years. During that time the local news informed the local population that frequent helicopter flights that hovered over homes were in fact doing historical thermal mapping. Why, exactly, was unclear. But frequently, the news would use thermal imaging footage in the pursuit and capture of “suspects” reporting.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:43pmUm, are these cameras gonna make things look larger than they might be in real life?….if so, Im all for them….otherwise, no way! Nooo…Im not asking for myself….its for a….friend….yes, thats right, a really shy friend.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:50pmCould they use these thing to see if people are smoking whatever in their homes or units with kids around????
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 7:56pmIf you are building a new home make the contractor wrap the home in reflective mylar. it blockd infared scanners.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 8:22pmWelcome to Brave New World. Also it’s more wasteful government spending. Enough already, vote these idiots out of office.
Report Post »Partygirl
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 8:55pmJust plain sick!!!
Report Post »nosycophant
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 9:03pmWill it show the heat generated between Bawny Fwank and his boyfriends.
Report Post »nosycophant
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 9:05pmThe ACLU watching out for the masses = smokescreen.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 9:16pmMaybe it can show how much the Red Sawx suck! Go Yanks!
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 9:55pmand it started in the airports. I‘m sure it’s all to be used to find terrorists.
I wonder how much a sheet of lead costs,,,,hmmm,,,times 100.
Report Post »Blazergirl
Posted on April 11, 2011 at 9:56pmI’m not sure I can take it anymore. Just stop torchering me and just get it over with and just take what little liberty/privacy I have left!!! This little by little stuff is enough to drive anyone crazy.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! China is looking better everyday. Don’t mind me I was just having “a moment”. November 2012 can not get here soon enough.
Report Post »Obeckian1984
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 7:48amcoming to a town near you
Report Post »http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/08/24/full-body-scan-technology-deployed-in-street-roving-vans/
Thanks Chertoff
http://www.infowars.com/chertoff-linked-to-body-scanner-manufacturer/
dawg of gawd
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:32amThis is news? Catch up, people, conservatives have been doing this for years, desperately seeking the arch criminals growing a couple pot pants in the basement.
Spin it as you must, but don’t believe for a minute this is new.
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