Minority Report Style Iris Scanners In Mexico

TheRealPacmanJones writes "Biometrics R&D firm Global Rainmakers Inc. (GRI) announced today that it is rolling out its iris scanning technology to create what it calls 'the most secure city in the world.' In a partnership with Leon, one of the largest cities in Mexico with a population of more than a million, GRI will fill the city with eye-scanners. The scanners will help revolutionize law enforcement not to mention marketing."

Comments

Oookay.

[Securityemo]

So now it will be illegal to wear sunglasses in Mexico?

Secure?

[WrongSizeGlass]

'the most secure city in the world.'

Not if you live, work or visit there. They need basic protections from drug gangs and their corrupt government, military and police. They don't need these scanners, they need millions of bullet proof vests.

Re:Secure?

[mangu]

They need basic protections from drug gangs and their corrupt government, military and police

They need their big rich neighbor in the North to decriminalize recreational drugs.

Chicago was also a violent and corrupt city when the recreational use of ethanol was unconstitutional.

Re:Secure?

[Balthisar]

Actually, Leon isn't a drug lord infested stink hole like some other parts of Mexico. It's slogan was (until recently) "The best city for living in!" And it's really kind of true. The state that it's in was one of the first to throw off the shackles of the ruling PRI (you know, they guys that never gave up power after the Mexican revolution), and it progressed as a result. The previous president of Mexico (Fox, the first non-PRI president in those 71 years) was from the outskirts of Leon. Their public transportation (non-subway) system is a model for the world, and it's being adopted for many parts of Mexico City (where I currently live, and is a shithole, even the "exclusive" neighborhood where corporate housing has me). Potable water, good infrastructure, lots of various industry, a very good, middle-class standard of living, and less-than-average corruption in their police force.

Generally speaking, Leon is /already/ one of the safest cities in Mexico.

I go to Leon quite extensively, and so the iris scanner thing actually kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies.

what a joke

[Schlemphfer]

Mexico is a failed state well on its way to anarchy. This is a country that can't even keep its police chiefs from getting assassinated by drug cartel thugs, and they think iris scanners are going to make a damned bit of difference? Give me a break.

Re:what a joke

[losttoy]

Here's how iris scanners can help fend off an attack. When attacked: 1. Throw an iris scanner real hard at the attacker. Don't worry if you miss, there are plenty more around you. 2. Offer an iris scanner to the attacker (should sell well on ebay) 3. Point iris scanner at the attacker and threaten to vapourize them. 4. Quickly hack into the iris database, delete attacker's identity. This will lead the attacker to question his existence and the attacker will simply implode. 5. Run! of course, iris scanner plays no role here.

Re:what a joke

[turbotroll]

Much the same may be said of the United States. Out of seven major signs of being a third world country with a first world public image, it is exhibiting seven.

An obligatory link: 10 Signs The U.S. is Becoming a Third World Country

I think I can speak for all of us when I say

[$RANDOMLUSER]

"In the future, whether it's entering your home, opening your car, entering your workspace, getting a pharmacy prescription refilled, or having your medical records pulled up, everything will come off that unique key that is your iris," says Jeff Carter, CDO of Global Rainmakers. Before coming to GRI, Carter headed a think tank partnership between Bank of America, Harvard, and MIT. "Every person, place, and thing on this planet will be connected [to the iris system] within the next 10 years," he says.

BURN IN HELL, MOTHERFUCKER!

Re:I think I can speak for all of us when I say

[$RANDOMLUSER]

The particular technology doesn't matter. Do you really want to live in a world where every time you "enter your home, your car, your workspace, get a prescription filled, etc.", it's recorder in a database? Do you want "every person, place and thing on this planet" (these are his quotes, not mine) recorded? TFA goes on with quotes from him tracking movements (truckers to start) and extolling the complete loss of privacy for everyone "on the planet". I say we start by tracking this miserable salesfuck and his family 24x7 and publishing it, see how wonderful he thinks it is.

Well

[ignuss]

I actually live in León, and I haven't heard anything about this (not ads, not rumours, nothing). So yeah, I kind of find the note somewhat not-believable. And for the guy that said that México is in its way to anarchy, lol @ you.

Just more proof that...

[CorvisRex]

Phillip K. Dick should be required reading for all kids. That way when they grow up and begin making decision that effect others, they just might(maybe) say, "Wow, I read something like this when I was a kid, it didn't turn out so well if I remember correctly." The reason so many Science Fiction writers can often be prophetic is that they look at a technology or an idea, and ask "I wonder what could go wrong with this?", "What will this idea mutate into in 100 years?" They think about the horrible, painful, or just bizarre turns technology and ideas can take. It is usually intended as social commentary, but is most often ignored...
Maybe they are just more in-tuned with the spirit of Murphy's Law than most....