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October, 2001 MARVELS |
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Master
File CHANNELS Politics
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Peeping Tom's Paradise Stick a special filter over the lens of a night vision camera and use it during the daytime. You'll be able to see through people's clothing. By Indrani Rajkhowa Cover up chastely the next time you see someone filming with a handycam. He might just be shooting you and the others present there nearly nude. Worse, he might Web-cast it over the Internet.
The camera, featured on Good Morning America, a popular TV series in the US, found that a simple home video camera fitted with night vision infrared technology allows users to take pictures in the dark. Night vision is a high-end military technology, which was popularised during the Gulf War. But some enterprising person found out that by sticking a special filter over the lens and using the camera in the day instead, allowed the viewer to have a glimpse of what lay beneath the clothing. Sony reportedly discovered the 'X-ray' ability of the camera way back in 1998 and hastily modified its night vision camera models to prevent this from happening. The company changed the way it manufactured these cameras so they would not allow users to peer through clothes. But once the Internet community got wind of the potential of a night vision camera, someone managed to adapt it to restore its 'X-ray' capabilities, to get the see-through effect back. Now they are up for sale all over the World Wide Web. The 'X-ray' camera with all the filters sells for approximately $700 (Rs 33,000), and is easy to obtain. See-through Filters The Infrared Pass Filter (IPF) is a special optical device that can be fitted to a night vision camera. The user will actually be able to penetrate and see through materials that would normally be impossible to see through with the naked eye. The IPF usually makes it possible to see through thin clothes. One can also see through make up on a woman's face, right through the foundation on the face or the lipstick applied. Consumer correspondent for Good Morning America Greg Hunter tested the camera on two volunteer models and the shots revealed that the female model was wearing nothing under her clothing, while the male model sported a tattoo reading 'Sosa' under his shirt. But the moot point here is that both the models knew they were being photographed, while most people who end up on the Internet sites are oblivious to the fact. Meanwhile, Sony has distanced itself from the camera, saying they have no responsibility for the modified products. Privacy Rights The most common (mis)use of the camera is by Web site owners who go out in public and film unsuspecting people. The images are then flashed over their sites, usually for a fee. "It's an outrage," said Martha Davis, director of the US-based National Organisation for Women's Legal Defence Fund, to ABCNews.com in a recent interview. "You don't expect people to look under your clothes. It's such a basic expectation that any court in the country would find that this violates that right." The new cameras have caught privacy advocates off guard. But legal experts say using them for voyeuristic purposes could carry criminal penalties, particularly under child pornography laws if people are photographing through children's clothing. But the irony is that the very site owners who allow the featuring of pictures of unsuspecting victims, apparently in the nude, on their sites certainly don't seem to be amused when asked to say cheese in front of the camera. When invited to appear for an interview for a news programme on TV, one site operator declined, saying, "I do not want to be labelled a pervert." Positive Uses See-through technology based on infrared is being used for good purposes as well. The technology has helped firemen see through smoke and save lives. Some cars are being equipped with infrared to help drivers see at night. And the military uses the technology to detect landmines. The uses of IPF are remarkable. These filters can see through dark windows making it possible for law enforcers to spot weapons, drugs and other breaches of the law taking place behind dark car windows. Banks, jewellery stores and any business associated with cash or valuables can benefit from the IPF. Moreover, the unique ability of the IPF to differentiate between the ink and the dyeing substance makes possible the detection of forged documents. Some scientists are upset that peeping toms have misused infrared-based technology by posting pictures of unsuspecting people in the buff on the Net. "It's a great way to be a peeping tom without having to climb a tree and look in the window," said Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a US-based consumer research firm. "It's invisible to the person whose privacy is being violated." It may be a while before law catches up with technology to deal with X-ray cameras that spy through clothes. Meantime, millions of ordinary home video cameras everywhere are making women uneasy. Virtually every innovation in imaging and related technologies has been appropriated almost immediately by the pornography and voyeurism industries. As long as people remain interested in their products, it's unlikely that these industries will slow their adoption of the latest technology. Though a nanny state-style ban on such technology would only harm the more useful applications, better and more effective legal provision for safeguarding individual privacy are clearly critically required. That's a transparent need. |
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Camcorders
these days feature breathtaking technologies. Some of these, however,
are being manipulated by the tech-savvy for altogether darker motives.
For instance, many of Sony's camcorders come with a night vision facility,
which allows users to see in the dark. When equipped with some specially
designed filters these camcorders, however, can see through people's clothes.
Clearly, this is innovation at its transparent best. And peeping toms
with a penchant for cinema-vérité are no doubt agog at the naked truth
that will be revealed to them.
