Smile! Urine Candid Camera!

Anon E. Muss writes "Just because you can put a camera somewhere doesn't mean you should. Apparently, the Department of Homeland Security doesn't grasp this concept. They've installed video cameras in urinals at Houston's Hobby Airport. At least they weren't sneaky about it — they posted a notice saying 'Automatic infrared flush sensors also provide video monitoring for security purposes.' (Insert bad joke about bashful bladder syndrome here)."

Comments

Simple solution

[Z00L00K]

Bring some post-it stickers to cover the lens while doing the business - remove&flush afterwards.

Re:Simple solution

[Spasemunki]

What if the camera is too big to flush?

Re:Simple solution

[Aranykai]

That sound you hear is 16 armed TSA officers bursting in the bathroom.

Re:Simple solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, yeah, the land of the "free". Just continue being "proud" and do some flag-waving.

Re:Simple solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Citizen. Come with me. Uncle Sam wants to peep your dilznick. Make even the least bit of sense? No? We're detaining you indefinitely anyhow, terrorist.

Re:Simple solution

[YourExperiment]

So why don't they just take a leak already?

Re:Simple solution

[More_Cowbell]

You are trying for some kind of humor? I can't see the joke in your comment.... ^ALL^ of the sensors I've seen (and I've seen quite a few across the US and other countries) have been built into the plumbing of the individual urinal.

Re:Simple solution

[stuntpope]

In the US they are most often located on the urinal itself (not on the porcelain, but on the pipes), just about chest-high, where you normally would find the flush lever.

Re:Simple solution

[theeddie55]

My mistake, the ones in the UK are usually on the ceiling or high up on the wall. I've only spent 10 weeks in the US and that was 5 years ago, it obviously wasn't enough time to familiarize myself with the American urinal flushing systems.

Re:Simple solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, yeah, the land of the "free". Just continue being "proud" and do some flag-waving.

<sarcasm>
Well, the terrorists hate us for our freedom. Obviously the solution is to destroy all traces of freedom.
</sarcasm>

Re:Simple solution

[trum4n]

This whole thing is just a shitty idea!

Re:Simple solution

[Fieryphoenix]

That's really a long time to hold it. Have you considered therapy?

Re:Simple solution

[MinistryOfTruthiness]

Well you don't need to be so pissy about it. :-P

Re:Simple solution

[impaledsunset]

Why stickers when you can simply break the fucking camera? Cause damage. That's the right way to do it.

Re:Simple solution

[DustyShadow]

You seem to be unaware of the fact that the department of homeland security is run by the federal government, not Texas.

Re:Simple solution

[speedtux]

So, tell us, what enlightened nation do you live in? If it's in the EU, you are at least as much spied upon, analyzed, data mined, etc. as Americans.

Well...

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, that just takes the piss...

Not as bad as it sounds

[Brian Gordon]

If there had to be a camera somewhere in a men's restroom, the safest place would probably be right on the urinal facing straight out, where it apparently is. And if you're blanketing a building with security cameras, how much sense does it make to leave out prominently labelled rooms where any illicit activity can occur under the radar?

Don't get me wrong, video surveillance is absurd, but cameras in bathrooms isn't any worse than cameras on every street corner.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Except that most people don't walk around on the street corner with their wang out.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Brian Gordon]

I mean right above the urinal of course.

The camera itself isn't shown in the picture; it's on the wall probably chest-height. That's where the IR sensors usually are. (I don't know how much slashdot females know about mens urinals o.o)

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Anonymous Coward]

I do.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Except that most people don't walk around on the street corner with their wang out.

What? You don't walk out with your cock out?

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[oljanx]

Actually that depends on the street corner, and whether or not there are ongoing celebrations.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Seriousity]

And you get modded insightful... What's going on today, this must be one of those false awakenings, I bet I'm still dreaming...

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[EdIII]

slashdot females

They exist?

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[rohan972]

And you get modded insightful... What's going on today

Yes, clearly that comment should have been modded informative.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Anonymous Coward]

Now it's modded funny. Behold the power of time!!!1

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Romancer]

"...the airport is the one place where I am willing to give up some privacy and convenience to gain more security."

Why?

Do you think it's easier to hurt you in an airport?
Or did you mean on the plane? Where there should be a solid impenetrable door to the cockpit and an absolute no negotiate policy.
That would actually protect you on the plane.

But you said the airport. Are you more afraid that they would hurt you there rather than on a bus? Or perhaps the train or subway?
Why not the mall? Why not a school? That'd make a point from a terrorist point of view.

If you are willing to give up your privacy in an airport simply because someone used that as a point of terrorism in the past, you're pretty narrow minded.
Just because something has happened in the past does not make it right to fear it more than other things that are just as likely and obviously much less guarded in the future. If you thik the terrorists are a one note band then you'll be just as surprised on the next news flash as you were on the last one. Learn that the only way to make things secure is to actually make them secure, not play security theatre.

Do you think that they will be able to monitor every camera, in every bathroom, all the time and that no one will figure out to go into a stall since the camera is visible?

Really?

Then you shouldn't worry about those terrorists, you should worry about what they are "trying to destroy"... Your freedoms, your feelings of safety and security, since there will be more stupid stunts to gain attention in the future and it's inevitable. Since they can buy a gun and walk into a mall or onto a bus or into a church and do whatever they want without time for a response, you're doomed if you let go of youor freedoms. They're the only thing that can sway those kinds of people away from those acts. To get them to stop doing what they "think they must do to get attention to their plights" and instead help fix the world of the consistant removal of those things that make us different. That make us not want to commit those acts because we have the freedoms to live and prosper as we see fit. To be in america. The things you are willing to give up to feel a little safer are the things that have been keeping you safe in your own country from domestic terrorists. Look to the middle east and count the bodies of those who did not have the freedom to think otherwise and then tell me you would give it up to feel safer and be a little more like them.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Anonymous Coward]

And you get modded insightful... What's going on today

Yes, clearly that comment should have been modded informative.

The mod may be apt as it's fully...in...sight

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[wisty]

Plus, they are probably desensitized to it all anyway. It would take a bit to shock them.

Still, I wonder what happened to the goatsie guy, and whether he ever flies.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[KatAngel]

*raises hand*

Of course, slashdot law requires that at least five people now show up to prove me wrong, since there are "no women on the internet." It's ok. However wrong you may be, I am prepared to acknowledge that you are only following cliches, jumping on bandwagons, and repeating someone else's jokes for perhaps the hundredth time in your life in an attempt to sound funny, witty, or intelligent. I know you're only 'doing your duty,' par se. Fulfilling your obligation to slashdot society.

Don't worry. There are people who can help you.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[Minupla]

Wish I had mod points. I just hope for their sake the grandparent post isn't seen by my wife today....

Min

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[KatAngel]

Excuse me for that, I'm not quite up-to-date on my Latin. (The irony of "up-to-date" and "Latin" being used in the same sentence...)

So I made one spelling error. Trust me, it's a rare occurrence. ^^;

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[ConceptJunkie]

+1 Funny doesn't give you Karma. +1 Insightful does. The mods are gaming the system to reward people who make good jokes since the system doesn't do it, if used properly. I suppose it's arguable whether the system should be changed or the metamods need to go on double-duty.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[maxume]

So the camera in the bathroom is going to keep you from getting blown up while you wait in line for security screening? "O.k. folks, bunch up over there so we can keep you safe."

The majority of the visible security activity done at airports is designed to make you feel safe, not to make you safe. Secure cockpit doors and angry passengers are the things preventing another airplane crash bombing, not the nonsense that they engage in at airports.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[PleaseFearMe]

Excellent idea. Problem is, the post in question was made by an AC.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[pedalman]

Does this "Peter Wang" happen to know a urologist by the name of "Dick Chopp"?

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[KatAngel]

You read too much into my post. I was being neither almighty nor defensive. Almighty would mean implying that I was smarter than entity x, or group x. It isn't almighty to be aware that my intelligence is higher than the average, as, I would imagine, are those of a good number of others who frequent slashdot. It takes a certain degree of logical-spacial intelligence to gain a strong affinity for technology. Then again, it's possible I'm overestimating slashdot.

At any rate, even if I *was* being defensive, which I wasn't, it certainly wouldn't have been over the comment that I'm a cat from outer space. I love cats. However, I hear so many stereotypes, perhaps it's merely a matter of instinct to quell them when I hear them, even in jokes. Jokes that rely on stereotypes (especially when those stereotypes are truly believed by a large number of people) fail to amuse me. (And there is a difference between "not amused" and "defensive" or "angry.")

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[ElKry]

Well, first things first, the irony of you telling me that I read too much into your post, then taking seriously the assertiveness that I believe you are being defensive of me saying you're a cat from Outer Space is pretty much the most ironic thing I've read this morning, which granted has started less than an hour ago.

Now, and totally ignoring your ramblings about intelligence and technology and averages, let's move to the next point. :

Jokes that rely on stereotypes.

Ok, so let's make something clear: stereotypes are sociological constructs based on empirical statistical evidence. By definition, being cultural knowledge and not individual knowledge, they can have a generation delay if changes occur to the grounds where that statistical data is based.

Jokes about stereotypes can be of two main types:

1) Jokes created by generations less than two generational replacements away from the social change that renders the stereotype incorrect, or 2) Jokes created by further generations.

The jokes contained in "1" are generally speaking jokes aimed at ridicule or derision of the joke's subject. The jokes in "2", however, even if they can contain exactly the same words, are created to ridicule the people from the previous generations, or those in the current generation whose beliefs are still rooted in the stereotype, against all statistical and social change available. They can also be aimed (and this is your case) at the excessive (to absurd levels) defensiveness of some members of the social group that the stereotype refers to, or white knights that believe the defense of that group to be their life's goal.

Now, the only way you can distinguish easily between those two types of jokes is by context and by knowing the person (or getting subtle hints in the joke itself, or accompanying sentences. This of course requires a high capability for empathy, a good sense of humour, and a clear view of the world without excessive defensiveness clouding your judgment, and we both know dykes don't have that.

See?

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[KatAngel]

Actually, "KatAngel" is derived from my real name, which is all the hint I'll give as to what my real name is. And you're the third person to correct my spelling of "per se." And I realized after submitting it that it was the wrong choice of words, but slashdot doesn't let me edit my post, so... there you go. And let's not get into stereotypes. I've talked about them enough on this page already.

Re:Not as bad as it sounds

[UncleTogie]

They're illegal. In a bathroom you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

That's what I thought, and looked up Texas Penal code Sec. 21.15... It states:

Sec. 21.15. IMPROPER PHOTOGRAPHY OR VISUAL RECORDING. (a) In this section, "promote" has the meaning assigned by Section 43.21.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) photographs or by videotape or other electronic means records, broadcasts, or transmits a visual image of another at a location that is not a bathroom or private dressing room:
(A) without the other person's consent; and
(B) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person;
(2) photographs or by videotape or other electronic means records, broadcasts, or transmits a visual image of another at a location that is a bathroom or private dressing room:
(A) without the other person's consent; and
(B) with intent to:
(i) invade the privacy of the other person; or
(ii) arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person; or
(3) knowing the character and content of the photograph, recording, broadcast, or transmission, promotes a photograph, recording, broadcast, or transmission described by Subdivision (1) or (2). (c) An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or the other law.
(e) For purposes of Subsection (b)(2), a sign or signs posted indicating that the person is being photographed or that a visual image of the person is being recorded, broadcast, or transmitted is not sufficient to establish the person's consent under that subdivision.

I'm no lawyer, but it seems that just posting signs is not a legal waiver to the invasion of privacy.

Excuse me but...

[KneelBeforeZod]

"When did we put on yellow lens filters on the cameras?" "We didn't"

Why not in stalls in BOTH sexes?

[cfryback]

Hmmm...Interesting - but why only on Urinals? Why not in the stalls in BOTH sexes of restrooms? Either way, this confirms that I don't really want to make the US as a destination when I make trips from Australia to Canada...

Re:Why not in stalls in BOTH sexes?

[Rakishi]

Have you read ANY of the stories on proposed security measures in the last five years? Only reason they don't run lie detectors on everyone is because it'd take too much time.

Re:Why not in stalls in BOTH sexes?

[dbIII]

There's one other reason.
That silly device invented by the writer of Wonder Woman and adopted by the FBI at a time when they were infamous for taking kickbacks doesn't actually work.

Bullshit

[QuantumG]

Well, just to get this out of the way.. this is bullshit. And dear god when did Slashdot become Digg?

Anyway, I think the comments are more interesting, especially this one:

From Inner Loop Realtor:

Y'know about 3 years ago I was mugged in the Hobby Airport parking garage. I told them at the time that they needed cameras in the garage. This is typical of bureaucratic idiocy. Meanwhile, watch your back.

1. I thought Houston was in Texas.. why weren't you packing? Defend yourself asshole.
2. Ya know that security cameras are completely useless for identifying people, right? I mean, if *you* couldn't identify the guy, then how is a security camera gunna help? You don't actually believe that "we zoomed in and cleaned it up a bit" shit that you see on 24, right?
3. Has anyone ever done a study (a real study) of the effectiveness of security cameras at preventing crime? Any sort of crime.
4. It's this kind of knee jerk "we need more surveillance" reaction that the DHS contractors are banking on. You are the problem.

Re:Bullshit

[guyminuslife]

"I thought Houston was in Texas.. why weren't you packing? Defend yourself asshole."

AIRPORT.

He wasn't packing because he hadn't unpacked yet. You have to check those, you know.

Or maybe---since he had just flown in---he wasn't from around here. ;-)

Re:Bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

>> 1. I thought Houston was in Texas.. why weren't you packing? Defend yourself asshole.

Please carry a firearm into the Houston airport terminal and let us know how that works out for you. kthanksbye.

Re:Bullshit

[cheros]

3. Has anyone ever done a study (a real study) of the effectiveness of security cameras at preventing crime? Any sort of crime.

Here you go, that's web economy for you (two answers in one link).

Have a nice day.

fake. Anyone can make up stickers.

[YesIAmAScript]

I'm actually bit jealous of whomever came up with that gag. He sure got a lot of mileage out of it.

It's clearly just a riff on the "naked X-ray" controversy going around.

Re:Urine a lot of trouble TSA!!

[Brian Gordon]

The cameras are mounted on the wall above the urinal; they're not staring at you out of the disinfectant cake. The only people with anything to be embarrassed about are the douchebags who lean forward and put their hand on the back wall and roll their head back and make weird facial expressions, and I don't feel sorry for them at all.

Illegal

[Renraku]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this illegal?

I remember some stores had the pants sued off of them (no pun intended) when people found out the dressing rooms were being monitored by cameras, to prevent theft.

Lots of high end places have bathroom attendants. Their job is two-fold. I'm not quite sure of the first one, but I know the second one is to make sure people know that it isn't a place where they can go and shit in the sink or assemble guns from the parts they have hidden in their underwear.

Re:Urine a lot of trouble TSA!!

[physicsphairy]

It is a joke. Note how half the lettering is bleeding out? Printed on an inkjet. Also, the suggested idea of combining flush sensors and cameras is absurd in every way. *is thinking about putting up some similar placards at his own airport*

Isn't it probably just a prank?

[Cyberllama]

Am I the only one who thinks this is just some prank pulled by some kid with an inkjet printer and some label paper? It would take 2 minutes to make that sticker and just slap it on a few urinals for giggles.

Like, I realize some ridiculous crap has happened in the past few years, but are we all so jaded we just automatically assume that this sort of thing is real?

Re:Isn't it probably just a prank?

[mattwarden]

If it is a joke, I bet someone goes to jail.

Re:Isn't it probably just a prank?

[guyminuslife]

You do realize that in the War on Terror it isn't necessary to charge people with crimes, don't you?

Re:Isn't it probably just a prank?

[somersault]

Tomorrow: Ironically it turns out there really are secret IR cameras installed in these facilities which caught him in the mischievous act of labelling. Hmm.

Re:Isn't it probably just a prank?

[grcumb]

Am I the only one who thinks this is just some prank pulled by some kid with an inkjet printer and some label paper? It would take 2 minutes to make that sticker and just slap it on a few urinals for giggles.

No way it could be a fake. If somebody tried to plant those stickers the urinal cameras would have identified him immedi.... Oh. Hang on....

Any other confirmation?

[MindlessAutomata]

Source is just blogspam and image could easily have been faked in photoshop. The government is stupid and paranoid and not deserving of our love but this is might be just a wee bit over the top at this point in time...

Re:Any other confirmation?

[Anonymous Coward]

image could easily have been faked in photoshop.

Indeed. This looks shopped. I can tell from some of the pixels and from seeing quite a few shops in my time.

When does "stupid" and "ridiculous"

[Jane Q. Public]

turn into "criminal? I think this is over the line.

If businesses in the United States cannot put video cameras in their bathrooms (and they can't), then neither can Homeland Security. They can't have it both ways.

If I found such a camera I would put duct-tape over it. That's just too damned far.

Re:When does "stupid" and "ridiculous"

[Jane Q. Public]

Looking for cameras, of course.

Seriously, though, when I travel, I generally carry with me some essential survival equipment: pocket-size rain poncho; "space blanket"; some string; some tape; a couple of needles, 2 or 3 yards of thread in different colors, and a thimble; a magnifying glass; some safety pins; a multi-tool; at least a small lighter but usually also some matches in a waterproof case; a flint-steel-magnesium firestarter; a small but powerful flashlight (Surefire or equivalent).

Re:I smell a prank.

[Cyberllama]

I'm pretty sure that's a common side-effect from taking Modafinil.

i wondered what larry craig was up to

[circletimessquare]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Craig#2007_arrest_and_consequences

unionized toilet flushing employees

[JimBobJoe]

I had this idea once for a short youtube feature.

It would show the normal black squares found on automatic toilets and urinals. But it would move into the wall to show employees sitting behind those squares, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a unionized toilet flusher.

Think of it done in the style of the BBC's remarkable Look Around You series.

I have found people surprisingly creeped out by this idea.

Also: why are they just in urinals?

[Jane Q. Public]

Seems to me that is prima facie discrimination.

Re:I smell a prank.

[__aajfby9338]

Well, that would explain why I've been smelling pranks for the last 83 hours.

Obvious Prank

[Phat_Tony]

I'm sure this is a prank. Since this is generating bad publicity for the DHS, they will probably catch the person who put these stickers on the urinals after reviewing the video from the real, covert hidden cameras they have covering the urinals.

Re:Urine a lot of trouble TSA!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm one of those douchebags. The ALS makes my legs and trunk too weak for me to stand unsupported, and my neck won't hold my head up unless I lean it back far enough to balance. I'll try to piss my pants next time, so as to avoid bothering you.

The guy that printed these...

[mcrbids]

The guy that printed/posted these is sitting somewhere laughing his fool arse off. Srsly - it's obviously a fake, and it made /. front page!

Ever wonder about the dark red glass on the I/R sensor? It's ridiculous to think there's a camera in there...

chuckle chuckle...

Re:Hrmm

[Anonymous Coward]

I was thinking the same thing, but I'm wondering if this would get us on at least TWO no-fly lists.

I'm not going to Houston then...

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't want to reveal my Willy of Mass Destruction to the cameras.

Re:I'm not going to Houston then...

[TitusC3v5]

Why did you add an M?

Hard to read,

[MasterOfDisaster]

What's with all the unnessicary bolding that seems to occur ever three or four words. It almost seems like their word processor is trying to speak like Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.

Great!

[ponraul]

Normally, I have to trick people into looking at my penis. Now, I have an audience. Thanks, TSA!.

Penis Recognition Software

[Timtimes]

Penis recognition software (PRS) is being developed in conjunction with this camera install. The FBI is keenly aware that "the terrorists" are likely to employ elaborate forms of disguise, even resorting to cosmetic surgery, but hardly anybody ever carves up their Johnson. Soon, all commercial toilets will be online and a massive archive of biometric dicktatude will be available. "Honey, how did it go at work today?" "Don't ask darling...nothing but a bunch of dicks down at the airport." Enjoy.