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The End of Privacy: Entire City to Track People With Public Eye Scanners - via davereed

“The City of Leon, Mexico, is installing real time iris scanners from biometrics R&D firm Global Rainmakers Inc. These scanners don’t require people to stop and put their eyes in front of a camera. They work in real time.

“From large scanners—capable of identifying 50 people per minute in motion— to smaller ones—like the EyeSwipe in the video above—that range from 15 to 30 people per minute, these devices are being installed in public places, like train and bus stations, and connected to a database that will track people across the city.

“According to Jeff Carter, CDO of Global Rainmakers, ‘If you’ve been convicted of a crime, in essence, this will act as a digital scarlet letter. If you’re a known shoplifter, for example, you won’t be able to go into a store without being flagged. Certainly for others, boarding a plane will be impossible.’

“The retinal scanning of Leon’s one million population has started already with its convicted criminals. Citizens with no criminal records have been offered the opportunity to ‘voluntarily’ scan their eyes.”

bonedust:

nevver:

The War is Not Over, Infographic: GOOD

Appalling.

Infographic of the Day: Financial Regulation Explained | Co.Design

Remember when the bank meltdown happened and we had to bail out Wall Street? We were so angry! But a funny thing happened on the way to financial reform: Mainstream media started covering the political fights rather than the substance. And when the bill finally passed earlier this week, it did so with a whimper. But passed it did—and few people have really explained in layman’s terms what’s at stake.

This series of infographics for The Washington Post, created by Brady Dennis and Alberto Cuadra, is the best attempt we’ve seen so far. This isn’t exactly a thing of beauty, but with a few handy dandy illustrations, the series illustrates the reasoning behind each of the five planks to financial reform contained in the recent bill.

Of course, there’s still room to debate whether or not the new law, signed today by President Obama, is strong enough to bend the system—after all, Wall Street has always proven to be pretty adept at circumventing whatever regulations have been placed upon them, and massive compromises were required to get the bill through the Senate.

But still, the infographics here are public-service journalism at its best. Check out the series here.