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New technology uses encrypted CCTV to protect the innocent
San Francisco-based 3VR developed a technology that uses face-recognition algorithms to home in on known faces in crowds — but an image-scrambling algorithm then blurs the faces and bodies of those who are not of interest to the authorities
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Red tape frustrates U.K. government's eavesdroppers
A new report says that bureaucracy and red tape hampers the ability of the U.K. government to cope with an increased demand for intelligence and security testing
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U.S., Colombia in a deal for surveillance of drug trade, terrorists
The Pentagon has to find a new site for anti-drug flight operations after Ecuador declined to extend the lease at Manta
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Virtual border system ineffective, out of cash
Both supporters and opponents of the effort to enlist citizens to keep an eye on Texas’s border with Mexico agree that, so far, it has not worked; the question is whether to scrap the plan or continue to fund it
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Robo-bats with metal muscles for surveillance
Researchers envision micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) which mimic nature’s small flyers — and develop robotic bats that offer increased maneuverability and performance
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NSA to build $2 billion data center in Utah
The NSA major data center — in Fort Meade, Maryland — has maxed out the capacity of the Baltimore area power grid; the super-secret agency is building a second data center in San Antonio, Texas, and has revealed plans to build a third center — a mammoth, 65 MW, $1.93 billion in Camp Williams, Utah
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Aerovironment wins a $2.1 million Phase 2 contract for tiny fluttering UAV
Aerovironment wins more money to develop its Nano Air Vehicle; the tiny, insect-size robot, flies and hovers using flapping wings like a hummingbird
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Rules of war to be programmed into robots' decision making
Georgia tech researcher has developed an “ethical governor” which aims to ensure that robot attack aircraft behave ethically in combat
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Border agency testing UAV along U.S. northern border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has adopted a new addition to help the agency watch over the northern border in upstate New York: a Predator B UAV
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Israeli Air Force practices UAV shoot-down technique
During the summer 2006 war, an Israeli Air Force’s F-16 shot down an Iranian-made Ababil UAV operated by Hezbollah; Hamas is trying to smuggle Iranian UAVs into the Gaza Strip, and Iran itself is developing more sophisticated UAVs — leading the IAF to practice UAV shoot-down techniques
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Iran tests radar-evading UAV
Commander of the Iranian air force says the service has successfully tested a home-grown, radar-evading UAV; the UAV is intended for both surveillance and bombing missions
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Israel will not sell the most advanced UAVs to Russia
Following the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war, Russia decided it needed more and better UAVs; two Russian companies failed to deliver them, so Russia bought 12 of them from Israel; Israel says it did not sell Russia the most advanced UAVs
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USAF looks for more discriminating UAVs
The increased use of UAVs in Pakistan has also increased the number of civilians being killed in attacks on insurgents; one of the main reasons is the fact that the least powerful munition they fire is Hellfire missiles, which are intended to puncture the tough armor of tanks; USAF plans to build smaller, even microscopic drones with smaller weapons that can hunt in swarms and engage targets in the close quarters of urban battlefields
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Russia buys 12 spy drones from Israel
The August 2008 war against Georgia convinced the Russian military that it needed more battlefield intelligence; after Russian defense companies failed to provide the military with the right gear, Russia turned to Israel
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Western companies help Iranian government to monitor citizens
Nokia Siemens provides the Iranian government with technology to monitor, control, and read local telephone calls; the product allows authorities to monitor any communications across a network, including voice calls, text messaging, instant messages, and Web traffic
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More headlines
The long view
Using Drone Swarms to Fight Forest Fires
Forest fires are becoming increasingly catastrophic across the world, accelerated by climate change. Researchers are using multiple swarms of drones to tackle natural disasters like forest fires.
Testing Cutting-Edge Counter-Drone Technology
Drones have many positive applications, bad actors can use them for nefarious purposes. Two recent field demonstrations brought government, academia, and industry together to evaluate innovative counter-unmanned aircraft systems.