Legislators Introduce Bill To Stop Set Top Boxes From Watching You

An anonymous reader writes "For a few years now, we've been hearing about TV-related devices that have built-in cameras and microphones. Their stated purpose is to monitor consumers and gather data — often to target advertising. (We'll set aside any unstated purposes — the uses they tell us about are bad enough.) Now, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have submitted legislation to regulate this sort of technology. '[They] said they want to get out ahead of the release of this new technology and pass legislation that ensures it would include beefed up privacy protections for consumers. They added that this legislation is particularly relevant given the recent revelations about the National Security Agency's Internet surveillance programs. ... Additionally, the bill requires a cable box or set-top device to notify consumers when the monitoring technology is activated and in use by posting the phrase "We are watching you" across their TV screens.'"

Comments

Oh please!

[fustakrakich]

As if the law is going to stop people from spying...

Re:Oh please!

[William Robinson]

As if the law is going to stop people from spying...

They do. Or else your DNA would have been public property and related information a public property.

Re:Oh please!

[fustakrakich]

Or else your DNA would have been public property...

How am I supposed to know it isn't? Trust them to tell me so? Haven't you people learned anything yet? Yeah, ok, it's not public property. It's the government's private property. I'm supposed to feel better, right?

Re:Oh please!

[harrkev]

The law might not be able to stop people from spying, but a simple post-it-note or a piece of electrical tape sure would.

Although this common-sense advice will only help people tech-savvy enough to know to do this.

Re:Oh please!

[icebike]

As if the law is going to stop people from spying...

The law should just ban the manufacture, import, sale, rental, or lease of any cable box equipment with cameras and microphone built in.

Game consoles should have bright red camera housing with LEDs indicating camera on, and a manual slider door that disables
the cam and micrpohone.

Re:Oh please!

[Immerman]

Indeed, and like the OLPC the lights should be hard-wired to the camera/mic so that it's physically impossible to record without activating the lights.

Re:Oh please!

[fustakrakich]

The feds enjoy sovereign immunity, and/or presidential pardons.

Re:Oh please!

[fustakrakich]

The law should just ban the manufacture, import, sale, rental, or lease of any cable box equipment with cameras and microphone built in.

Why? So only "The Law" can do those things?

Re:Oh please!

[icebike]

The law should just ban the manufacture, import, sale, rental, or lease of any cable box equipment with cameras and microphone built in.

Why? So only "The Law" can do those things?

Um, there seems to be a problem of understanding here.

You buy your set top cable box from Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Dish, etc. Not from the police.

Sorry I was speaking above your level of understanding. Next time I'll try speaking in early american knee jerk.

Re:Oh please!

[fustakrakich]

Yeah well, the 'police' can tell them to put a camera and a mic in there if they want. Sorry the water is a little shallow at your end of the pool.

Re:Oh please!

[Sloppy]

The law should just ban the manufacture, import, sale, rental, or lease of any cable box equipment with cameras and microphone built in.

You are you, to say my HTPC can't double as a phone?

The best way to solve this problem is to outlaw DRM and any other proprietary licensing needed in order to manufacture these computer systems. That would allow competition (and "promote progress" if I may lapse into a little constitutionese). The competition created by ending receiver lock-in, would put users (buyers) in the drivers seat as to what features/bugs are desirable. Then if users don't want to be spied upon, they won't buy the spies-on-you-boxes.

Right now we can't have that market, because the DRM, both through DMCA (i.e. a gun pointed at your face) and also trade secrets, make it so there can't be competing boxes; users are a captive audience and have to accept whatever features/bugs come with The One Box that they're allowed to use.

(The DMCA aspect is particularly infuriating; the government isn't even neutral or laissez-faire in this issue, they're actually neck-deep committed to an anti-consumer position.)

Imagine if it worked the way it ought to (and how it did a decade ago, when many of us subscribed to analog cable TV) : would you decide to include a camera and a mic in your MythTV build, and if you did, and would you write (or even bother to install) the plugin which would forward those inputs to your cable company? Or if you didn't want to build it yourself and instead you preferred to buy it from someone who did that, would you pay extra for the ones that spied on you?

It's absurd when I put it that way, isn't it? That's how simple it is, and how awful it is that you're not allowed to be in control of what this computer does.

This problem can totally solve itself, if we can get government to reverse its pro-DRM position. There's no need to prohibit things like cameras and mics; just legalize consumers' Just Say No strategy for dealing with hostile computers.

Re:Oh please!

[DickBreath]

At least they passed a law. Now we'll have legal protection from being spied on in our living rooms and bedrooms just like how the constitution gives protection against unreasonable search by the NSA. I feel safer already. NOT.

Don't stop there

[rogueippacket]

Don't just limit this to set top boxes, include gaming consoles and make a big fucking red blinking light mandatory on devices like Glass.

Re:Don't stop there

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

And have the light hardwired to the camera power so it's physically impossible for software to turn it off.

This last bit will stop government from backdoor watching, even via court order.

Re:Don't stop there

[bmo]

And have the light hardwired to the camera power so it's physically impossible for software to turn it off.

And electrical tape or paint doesn't block light. Right?

--
BMO

Re:Don't stop there

[fustakrakich]

That's funny. You all are asking the people who spy on us to cripple the tools they use for the job. When when they tell you to 'roll over and take it like a man', you happily comply and ask for more.

Re:Don't stop there

[Anonymous Coward]

And have the light hardwired to the camera power so it's physically impossible for software to turn it off.

And electrical tape or paint doesn't block light. Right?

Nope, never seen any paint or electrical tape installed by software that could block light...

Re:Don't stop there

[spire3661]

Because no one would bother de-soldering the LED off the board.......

Re:Don't stop there

[Immerman]

If it's a device whose normal operation would involve that light being on then it'll be pretty obvious that it's been tampered with. And of course if you want to remove such a safeguard on your own device that's your business. Short of imprisonment you can't protect someone who doesn't want to be protected.

Re:Don't stop there

[muon-catalyzed]

In other words, you say that this law excludes things like the new "Xbox One" which has that mandatory camera.

Re:Don't stop there

[MacDork]

Don't just limit this to set top boxes, include gaming consoles and make a big fucking red blinking light mandatory on devices like Glass.

Why no blinking lights on security cameras? You expect no one is filming you without your knowledge in public? If glass makes you uncomfortable, I suggest you look up occasionally.

Re:Don't stop there

[mysidia]

And electrical tape or paint doesn't block light. Right?

I put my STB in a wooden cabinet underneath the television, and shut the door. It's sealed pretty tightly, other than some holes I cut out the back of the cabinet, for wires to come in, for Video/Audio/IR Cabling, and some air holes, in the places where I mounted the fans.

I imagine... I don't have much to worry about cameras on an STB that normally lives in a box with no light, other than from the LCD panels of other devices.

Re:Don't stop there

[mysidia]

Why no blinking lights on security cameras?

Because there are typically signs about video recording taking place. If they are visible; everyone knows it's either a security cam that's always recording, or a dummy cam that's never recording --- dummy security cameras often have "red lights" to attract attention.

Security cams also dump their footage to DVR systems, large amounts of video are archived --- extracting video requires a lot of effort, this is not done lightly - generally, only for the legitimate purpose the camera is there for..

Generally, security cams will not record audio, for fear of legal problems with wiretap laws.

Google glass, et al. On the other hand, are personal devices. If someone records something with Google glass, there is a very high chance that their recording will wind up on social networking sites.

Also, security cameras are sometimes designed to be covert -- and 'a flashing light' likely compromises the critical purpose of the camera. Therefore.... even if they had such a light, the owner would likely find a way of obscuring, disabling, or removing said flashing light in many cases.

There are a very large number of both subtle and superficial differences between "personal video recording" and security camera recordings for explicitly safety and protection purposes (esp commercial security).

Re:Don't stop there

[antdude]

Don't forget mic(rophone). You can't cover that to block audio inputs easily. One would have to disconnect it physically! :(

Re:Don't stop there

[drcheap]

I'm sure there are some choice sentences in the installation/operating instructions of these new-fangled STBs that explain how they MUST be located in a specific position relative to your TV. You know, for "optimal performance" and whatnot.

Re:Don't stop there

[drcheap]

Just put your STB inside of a small vacuum canister!

(Yes, I realize there are all kinds of problems with that idea...just stop thinking about it and enjoy the humor you oversensitive clod).

Re:Don't stop there

[drcheap]

Because no one would bother de-soldering the LED off the board.......

"I don't want to know when they are spying on me."

Yeah, that makes sense. A lot.

Re:Don't stop there

[antdude]

Har har har! /me throws a rotten tomato at DrCheap for his cheap joke.

Re:Don't stop there

[MacDork]

Security cams also dump their footage to DVR systems

Nope. I can find unsecured security cams all day long on google. Quick. Hide. I might be watching you!!

Re:Don't stop there

[melikamp]

Instead of protecting the consumer by outlawing every evil feature a computer might possibly have, they should simply mandate free and open source software in all consumer electronics. It will make all software cheaper, spur the competition, and provide adequate protection from all evil features, even the ones we can't imagine today.

That's fine

[DaMattster]

I think I'll drop my drawers and spread my ass cheeks really wide for the camera. Hopefully that'll nauseate the folks on the other end watching. Knowing my luck, if there is targeted advertising then I might suddenly see advertisements for Charmin Ultra and Tidy Bowl.

Re:That's fine

[kheldan]

I know you're going for the Funny here, but:

In the 1984-esque future that some people would have for us all, you'd be quietly picked up by law enforcement officials some time shortly afterwards, and taken to a hospital for "observation" because of your "deviant behavior", then either committed to a mental institution or a "re-education" facility to "cure" you of the mental illness causing your deviant outbursts. Have to protect the citizens, after all.

Re:That's fine

[DaMattster]

I'm partly going for funny and partly serious. I really don't want to be observed in my own home like that. I figure if I can make it distasteful enough, it may stop. :-)

Re:That's fine

[Oligonicella]

Don't project.

Re:That's fine

[kheldan]

Trying to think like someone working for a police state would: If you were observed, you would probably at least get "interviewed" by the police, because they'd think that if you were that much of an exhibitionist, knowing that you were obviously being monitored, that you might expose yourself to children -- and we have to think of the children!
Of course that's why this shit has to be nipped in the bud as soon as possible, so we don't end up going down that road. Or, at least, put off going down that road until I'm dead, after which I won't give a crap, because I'll be dead.

Re:That's fine

[Hentes]

The folks on the other end watching will be Indians working for a few dollars a day.

Re:That's fine

[wasteoid]

You would probably start receiving advertisements for the Bravo channel.

Re: That's fine

[Vanderhoth]

Or ads for hemroid cream

Re:That's fine

[mysidia]

I think I'll drop my drawers and spread my ass cheeks really wide for the camera. Hopefully that'll nauseate the folks on the other end watching. Knowing my luck, if there is targeted advertising then I might suddenly see advertisements for Charmin Ultra and Tidy Bowl.

Perhaps if you cause some of your copyrighted work to appear on the camera, and then start sending takedowns, demanding that their "recording/monitoring center" immediately destroy all copy of tapes with video captured from your STB.

Re:That's fine

[Drahgkar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44_JUkrLXp8

-or if you prefer the original-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY

Re:That's fine

[L4t3r4lu5]

Or, at least, put off going down that road until I'm dead, after which I won't give a crap, because I'll be dead.

Spoken like a true corporate sociopath.

Re:That's fine

[DaMattster]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44_JUkrLXp8

-or if you prefer the original-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY

One of my favorite hits! GEICO had Mysto & Pizzi do a version that was cool as well.

I have some better ideas:

[kheldan]

1. Don't allow the technology at all. Why does your television or set-top box (video game consoles excluded) need a camera or microphone in it in the first place?
2. Mandatory user-configurable setting to turn off such devices permanently if that's what the consumer wants, or better yet, make such devices separate accessories that physically plug in, so you can physically disconnect them when you're not actively using them.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[__aaltlg1547]

What if some customers want to be watched? I assure you, there are many such people. Why do you think there are so many people with Facebook privacy settings wide open? Instead, make it so you can't make any of the cable services dependent on it. Then users who don't want to be watched can cover the camera port. Of course, even then, they'll attempt to manipulate you. They could show you only the most annoying possible ads if the camera port is covered, but show you ads that they have calculated will be less annoying to you if they can see you. No camera? Nonstop ads for penis pills, laxatives and feminine hygiene products.

Even basic ad targeting is more profitable than untargeted ads they shovel at us now. Why advertise high-end cars to people who can't afford them? A camera in your living room could tell that what you really might be interested in is a new couch and you probably don't have a lot of money to invest, or that you have young'uns or don't and tell whether it would be likely to be profitable to show you ads for diapers and toys.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[dugancent]

Most facebook profiles that wide open are because they don't know they are or don't know how to change it.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[PopeRatzo]

1. Don't allow the technology at all.

And when has that ever worked?

Re:I have some better ideas:

[__aaltlg1547]

You're just wrong. Nobody wants ads that are more intrusive than they already are, or they want them to be less intrusive. But if you're watching TV, they're GOING to show you ads, and they're going to have audio and video because that's the medium. Most people don't particularly care what ads, as long as those ads aren't more annoying than average, therefore most people won't care if the ads they get are targeted, and most people won't think twice about walking scantily dressed or naked or having sex in front of an active webcam.

When you do a web search, you see lots of ads. Your search results are full of them. On Google, they're all over the right sidebar. They call them sponsored links, but they're targeted ads. On Bing, which is the 2nd most used search engine in the USA, they're all over the page, as they are on Yahoo!

Re:I have some better ideas:

[Zontar The Mindless]

Thanks a lot, moderators, for encouraging this sociopath and his fucked-up worldview.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[__aaltlg1547]

The irony of this is that today I have mod points, and I'd mod you up if I could.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[MrL0G1C]

Why do you think there are so many people with Facebook privacy settings wide open?

Mostly because they are too lazy / don't know how to go through a bunch of settings which Facebook made very complicated.

What if some customers want to be watched?

Why should the 95% that don't want to be watched have invasive technology added to their TVs just to appease the 5% that do want to be watched.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[__aaltlg1547]

Do you realize that the "fix" for this is any of

1. (a) buy a TV that doesn't have a camera in it?
2. (b) don't connect the upstream connection?
3. (c) put a piece of tape or a conveniently placed object in front of the camera?

Why should 5% be forbidden to have/use a technology that they want for whatever reason because some others don't want it in their homes? What kind of Nanny-State thinking is that?

Re:I have some better ideas:

[kheldan]

Simple.
Blacklist all the ad servers on your router.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[kheldan]

Why? Because corporations lie about their intentions. Because corporations are all about profit, not protecting people's rights, and cannot be trusted to be responsible anymore.

Re:I have some better ideas:

[MrL0G1C]

Perhaps the mandate should be that this feature is clearly labelled on the product as a product warning.

Why should anyone pay for this if they don't want it, a clear example of a feature all TVs have that doesn't benefit the consumer is HDCP, they pay for the chips to decode encrypted signals, they pay for the relevant patents and research, but this is a technology which reduces the functionality of TVs and audio-visual equipment in general.

(a) buy a TV that doesn't have a camera in it?

1) Cameras in TVs could become ubiquitous - can you find a new laptop without a camera?

2) The camera might not be advertised, the feature might not be mentioned.

(b) Don't connect the upstream connection?

This wouldn't necessarily be possible to stop if a network like BT openzone is nearby and BT did a deal with the TV makers to carry the data via WiFi.

(c) put a piece of tape or a conveniently placed object in front of the camera?

And what if you can't see it, do you rip your TV open to find it. Or it could be so close to the IR-sensor that if you block it then your remote also stops working?

Put it on the box

[clarkkent09]

It's too late once you already bought the thing. There should be a message on the box in big bold letters, "this device may be used to watch what you are doing in your own house" or something, like on cigarette packs. If you don't mind, sure buy it but you should have the information ahead of time.

Re:Put it on the box

[kheldan]

1. Put it back in the box, take it back to the store, exchange it for something with no camera and no microphone.
2. Electrical tape over the camera and/or microphone.
3. Disconnect it from your network when you're not actively using these features for the legitimate purposes you bought them for.
3a. Doesn't work when disconnected from the network/internet? Return it to the store or sell it on Craigslist, get something that doesn't invade your privacy.

Re:Put it on the box

[HiThere]

Older headphones could be used as mics, but I'm not all all sure that's true of recent technology. (The last ones I was certain that it worked for were carbon membranes. Around 1950.)

So, are you even certain that your initial statement is true? (I don't know that it isn't, but that's much different from knowning that it is.)

However, presuming that it is, then speakers could be used as mics. They wouldn't be very good ones, but probably good enough that signal processing could recover the sound. So then we come to the capabilities of the electronic system that they are plugged into.

In short, there are very good reasons why mics and speakers are generally separate pieces of hardware.

OTOH, are you aware that, at least in some people, with a sensitive enough mic you can hear some of their thoughts through the ear? The volume is quite low, and you don't, IIRC, hear non-verbalized thoughts (I'm not even quite sure what that would mean). Something about pre-verbal thoughts constricting muscles in the vocal chords, but not sufficiently that speech results. Why you can hear it through the ear I do not know.

All fine and good, but what about the NSA?

[sideslash]

The NSA doesn't ask for permission. A head honcho director just recently lied to Congress under oath about the extent of surveillance, and nobody in charge seems to mind. Tell me again exactly what this law is supposed to accomplish?

Re:All fine and good, but what about the NSA?

[Rougement]

True. Even so, can't people monitor their internet connection and be able to tell when they're being spied on? I'm not competent enough to do this but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a way to record the IP address that unauthorized data is being sent to, along with the nature of the data itself.

Re:All fine and good, but what about the NSA?

[sideslash]

can't people monitor their internet connection and be able to tell when they're being spied on? I'm not competent enough to do this but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a way to record the IP address that unauthorized data is being sent to, along with the nature of the data itself.

A competent hacker can hide his identity by relaying his connection through multiple other servers, so you often can't determine the origin of even black hat spying. The NSA has resources that hackers don't, such as listening filters installed at many of the internet's core communication hubs. So they can spy on basically everybody and nobody (except the big telcos) knows exactly how it's done.

guaranteed way to get this to pass

[RobertLTux]

consider the habits of young folks and what could happen if this records a young girl/boy being kids

Oh Noes its dah Kiddey Pron!!!

seriously can any manufacturer guarantee that they will not record or allow to be posted online children in states of undress??

also add give people the right to buy the box

[Joe_Dragon]

also add give people the right to buy the box with no outlet / mirroring / per box access / card fees.

Re:Disgusting anus

[worf_mo]

Why do I have to waste precious moderation points to downmod this crap? Why can't this be blocked automatically? It's not like it's something completely new and out of the blue.

Contact your congress critters....

[wiggles]

The bill is H.R. 2356, introduced by Michael Capuano (D-Mass) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.).

Find your congressman here. Send them some sort of correspondence that says you wish them to co-sponsor the bill. If you e-mail, make sure you request a response.

Re:Become clean immediately!

[harrkev]

Spam, spam, spam, spam!
Lovely spam, wonderful spam.
spaaaaaaaaaam!

Good Luck With That

[SeaFox]

...Additionally, the bill requires a cable box or set-top device to notify consumers when the monitoring technology is activated and in use by posting the phrase "We are watching you" across their TV screens.

Yeah... that's not gonna happen.
If the entertainment Industry's lobbyists are unable to get this legislation stopped that will be the first provision to be removed. It's simply too creepy and will have most people taking their STB back to the local office to get an older one with no camera.

Re:Good Luck With That

[Zontar The Mindless]

... It's simply too creepy and will have most people taking their STB back to the local office to get an older one with no camera.

You're saying that like it's a bad thing.

Re:Good Luck With That

[SeaFox]

It is for the MSOs.

They want their new boxes because chances are the new boxes will have a higher monthly rental rate than the old ones, justified by the extra features they have and sleeker design.

Re:Good Luck With That

[mysidia]

If the entertainment Industry's lobbyists are unable to get this legislation stopped that will be the first provision to be removed. It's simply too creepy and will have most people taking their STB back to the local office to get an older one with no camera.

There is a bigger problem.... consumers' TV may be turned off; the STB may be plugged into a "video switching" unit, so that nothing can be displayed on the TV screen.

On the other hand... if they are watching the STB feed, the message may obstruct what they intend to be doing.

I would rather see it be mandatory, that There will be a clear and unambiguous indicator active on the STB at all times, while recording or monitoring is occuring.

And (2): There must be a front-mounted, large, easily seen and operated physical switch that is guaranteed to shut off power to all micrpohones, video recording devices, and phone home for transmission of device or customer information.

In addition, no monitoring and recording is allowed if the device is in an "off" or "stand by" mode, or appears to be turned off.

its like blocking data mining

[RobertLTux]

these sub-sentients with less than favorable lineage and parents not married (to each other) use various tricks to evade ip based blocking (and other things).

the only way for them to be blocked is for the admins to block based on keywords.

Re:its like blocking data mining

[worf_mo]

Keywords and bayesian filtering might be helpful. Also, the fact that the post in question contains a high number of links that all point to the same url could ring a bell. Less than favorable lineage, indeed.

Re:its like blocking data mining

[MrL0G1C]

And the irony is you can't post code on a site where most can program because it is automatically blocked (unless you add a ton of superfluous writing).

A good way to implement a spam filter would be to have longer term members that obviously aren't trolls (based on their profile stats) get a [this is spam] button, and the post gets hidden and marked as spam like on youtube with the option to say it isn't spam because some fools will of course abuse the spam button. Then anyone who abuses the spam button gets warned and then the button gets permanently removed for them.

Re:Disgusting anus

[icebike]

Why do I have to waste precious moderation points to downmod this crap? Why can't this be blocked automatically? It's not like it's something completely new and out of the blue.

Slashdot editors themselves have unlimited mod points and use them to control this type of crap.
Set your sliders to zero and you never see this because they mod them to oblivion instantly.

Hey slashdot: How bout some sliders that actually work on Android!!

Wouldnt matter if they made a law or not..

[Anonymous Coward]

Everything is mute with EULA enforcement.. since the EULA can say anything and be changed at anytime.. You basically agree to whatever they say you agree to.. So if they use the cameras to view you naked in front of TV/xbox/etc.. then you agreed to it by saying "yes" to the EULA..

You sign a contract with lots of fine print for a cell phone.. Which is a remote bug / camera / GPS tag / etc all rolled into one nice package the government has proven time and again it loves to snatch and snoop on..

the problem isnt needing government to provide laws.. We need to educate people to understand how their privacy is a commodity they are selling cheaply for a fancy doodad or worse.. PAYING to have taken from them..

Remember the words Everything you do or say can be used against you in court - They literally mean everything if they can find proof of it..Caught speeding? used against you in future tickets, ask any felon how many times they gotten a chance from any police agency.. (I am not a felon, but Ive known a few)

In short, the stupid, uninformed and clueless will continue to throw away basic freedoms / etc for a few bright shiny things, and in some cases will even pay for the use of said shiny (think Cars with On-star)..

the "patriot act" needs to be abolished.. We need to reinstate the checks and balances in government before we force checks and balances on company's who stupid people will continue to do business with

Invert

[Anonymous Coward]

Since they are politicians we can safely assume that anything they say is false and everything is to be inverted, thus they are making it mandatory for the set top boxes to include surveillance capability.

Re:Hmm

[wmac1]

"Legislators Introduce Bill To Stop Set Top Boxes From Watching You"

Awww, how considerate. How about a Bill to Stop "Prism, Fairview, Blarney, Boundless Informant ..." watching us? Oh... never mind.

Mandatory spyware?

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it true that the new xbox will cause continual error displays if you try to tape over the camera, and that it actually does face recognition so that it can recognize people who walk in the room and trigger actions based on such events?

What is the resolution of these things (in millimeters at 2m)?

Re:Mandatory spyware?

[PPH]

Face it towards the wall.

Re:Disgusting anus

[Dr. Tom]

sorry, I thought this was a different thread. Oops! I'm an idiot. Ha ha.

They are not idiot

[aepervius]

Step 1 : check an image from TV, say every 15 minutes or so.

Step 2 : if no image can be detected (and even in the complete darkness with only the TV light tehre will be an image with contrast light/darkness) announce "no person detected" , then show an automatic shutdown in a few minutes message.

Step 3 : announce this feature in the manual as a power saving measure.

Re: They are not idiot

[dgatwood]

Easy fix: Smear Vaseline on the lens. It will still be able to detect motion, but the image won't be useful for much else.

What Would Be Useful

[LifesABeach]

Is to be informed as to which boxes have microphones and cameras, and their locations.

ehemmm.

[MobSwatter]

Ah, ahead of this technology? How many of us own a sony television with a "presence monitor"? I always wondered about the capability of this device. Considering the depth of thought required for NSA to perform in an info war, I do really wonder how many devices they have in there long before the XBone.

Because

[ArchieBunker]

The janitors who run this site can barely figure out how to post submissions. Next you'll want spelling/grammar/factual checks.

Re:Because

[JimCanuck]

Now now, that is insulting to janitors comparing the two groups.

Re:Disgusting anus

[Zontar The Mindless]

Slashdot editors themselves have unlimited mod points and use them to control this type of crap.
Set your sliders to zero and you never see this because they mod them to oblivion instantly.

Your naïvété is touching.

Hey slashdot: How bout some sliders that actually work on Android!!

WFM in Opera and FF on multiple Android devices.

In Soviet Russia...

[Anonymous Coward]

...YOU watch the set top box!

Re:In Soviet Russia...

[MobSwatter]

In Soviet Russia, one could expect these things in a communist regime, on occasion I suppose one would even pose for the set top box, but in the US, our economy is not compatible with fear mongering, shared intel between the military and judicial branches of gov't, unregulated gov't spending, war declared upon anything other than a sanctioned nation, hypocrisy or A.D.D. from our leadership, throwing pork to people then calling them terrorists. Such things could lead to a bill to dissolve and reform the U.S. Gov't or worse yet, civil war.

Re:In Soviet Russia...

[Tablizer]

and it takes your Superbowl ring.

Re:Disgusting anus

[symbolset]

How about if you want a forum with censorship, you go find one?

Kent, is that you?

[Marrow]

"You know you're not supposed to park that on campus"

Re:Kent, is that you?

[drcheap]

Bwahhahaha...nice. I doubt many of these young'ns will get that reference though.

Re:Kent, is that you?

[dgatwood]

Except the more appropriate quote would be, "And from now on, stop playing with yourself."

Watching that movie now.

The box is an agent of a foreign power

[Marrow]

And your threshold is your last line of defense. I am leaving my xbox unplugged unless I use it. Which is less and less frequently; and I dont see myself buying any more games for it.

Physical Switches

[Pepebuho]

I want a mechanical switch to physically disconect any Camera / Microphone from the computer/TV/media box. I do not trust any software setting that just says that they are off. The computer can be lying. At least with a switch, where I can open up the box and verify that the switch really disconnect things, I can be sure that those sensors are off.

Re:Read the bill

[MobSwatter]

So nice of you to hold trust in what is on paper is how things work out, and blindness to the constitution also on paper, and failure to realize that what is on paper is not the way it works out.

Re:Read the bill

[techno-vampire]

And now we know what BO means by "transparency in government:" we can't see that they're watching us.

Re: Oh police!

[jxander]

For the microphone, I just tune a radio to whatever pop station I can find, and aim that directly at the mic. Maybe switch it up to yodeling every so often, or Gregorian Chants.

Then, once every couple days ... BLAMO!!! Balloon or brown paper bag popped right over the mic.

Re:Disgusting anus

[MrL0G1C]

Now that's a rather inane answer, do you really read slashdot at -1 all the time so that you can see all the spam and trolling? Spam could be a mod option that doesn't cost points.

Or an anti-spam option like Youtube's could be implemented, but with improvements to stop it being abused.

A suggestion:

[BrokenHalo]

A simpler process might be to adopt a policy where score values less than -1 are deleted completely.

And maybe, additionally, a policy where repeat offenders under the same UID or IP are banned for an appropriate quarantine period.

I can understand the egalitarianism of the original Slashdot rules, but times have moved on. There are just too many bad guys, and since we aren't allowed to just kill them, other means have to be implemented.

Re:Disgusting anus

[symbolset]

Yes, I do. To me it's worth it to see what comments have been voted down due to moderation abuse. Sometimes they are the most interesting and informative comments of all. While I don't especially like the spam and trolling for me it's worth putting up with that to get these golden nuggets. If you don't care for it, slide the slider to "0" or "1".

Re:Disgusting anus

[BrokenHalo]

do you really read slashdot at -1 all the time so that you can see all the spam and trolling?

In my case, yes, since I often prefer to post rather than moderate, even though I seem to quite frequently have mod points. Besides which, quoting previously downmodded posts under my UID is a perfectly valid way of bringing them back into the open.

Re:Filthy sows! Become clean!

[Ash-Fox]

I couldn't remove the virus no matter what method I used. I tried all the latest anti-virus software and all the usual tricks

"Tricks", "anti-virus software" ? Uh. Just remove it manually, duh. Like any normal Slashdotter would.

The only "trick" I can think of that would be relevant is reimaging in fifteen minutes using a network boot installer, then after restoring only the files the user wants and I can't see how that trick would fail.

You don't know your job, please go.