Cybersecurity Expert Questions Existence of Embedded Camera On SIA's Inflight Entertainment Systems (yahoo.com)

Vitaly Kamluk, an information security expert and a high-ranking executive of cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, went on Twitter with concerns about an embedded camera in Singapore Airlines' (SIA) inflight entertainment systems. He tagged SIA in his post on Sunday, asking the airline to clarify how the camera is being used. Yahoo News reports: SIA quickly allayed his fears of unwanted surveillance by assuring Kamluk that the cameras have been disabled, with no plans to use them in the future. Not all of their devices sport the camera, though -- SIA explained that only some of its newer inflight entertainment systems come with cameras embedded in the hardware. In another tweet, SIA affirmed that the cameras were already built in by the original equipment manufacturers in newer inflight entertainment systems. Kamluk recommended that it's best to disable the cameras physically -- with stickers, for example -- to provide better peace of mind. In 2017, entertainment device developer Panasonic Avionics said it was studying how eye tracking can be used for a better passenger experience. As the report mentions, "Cameras can be used for identity recognition on planes, which in turn, would allow for in-flight biometric payment (much like Face ID on Apple devices) and personalized services."

Comments

Re: It's a privacy concern

[astrofurter]

So much surveillance, so little benefit.

It's still unsafe to walk down many streets at night. The rich are still above the Law. American workers wages are still depressed by an army of (fully lawful) imported guest worker scabs. The real economy is still in a state of near collapse. The 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th Amendments are still de facto repealed.

But Big Brother is always watching. Don't worry, because Big Brother loves us all.

The reason we ignore it

[aepervius]

is because the market for video calling is nearly nill, whereas the airline simply buy component in bulk. As long as the component are within spec there is no need to requalify them (air worthyness can be a lengthy process), so it does not surprise me they got component with camera for which they simply do not use the camera, it is far cheaper than ordering the same component without camera.