Councils Use Bugs in Lampposts to Eavesdrop on You

Anil Dawar
Express
July 5, 2010

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

High-powered spy microphones on street lampposts are being used by snooping council officials to listen in on private conversations.

A network of new “intelligent” listening devices which can monitor discussions has been deployed on Britain’s streets for the first time.

The so-called Sigard system has been tested in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Coventry. The microphones, connected to CCTV cameras, can recognise aggressive “trigger” words and sounds, then automatically direct cameras to zoom in on the speakers.

Manufacturers denied the system is used to record conversations.

It analyses sound patterns to pick out angry or distressed voices.

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This article was posted: Monday, July 5, 2010 at 1:50 pm

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