If you know someone who's not yet been taken aback by the ever growing police surveillance complex, show 'em this.
LAW enforcement agencies are seeking scientists to develop an artificial nose that can detect the smell of fear as terrorists pass through security at airports.
The US Department of Homeland Security is advertising for specialists to devise airport scanners that will sniff out “deceptive individuals”.
[...]
Homeland Security wants a device that automatically compares odours with scents collected from crime scenes and held in a “smell bank” which, like DNA or fingerprints, could be used in court.
Last week officials said they only wanted to explore the possibilities but scientists are already predicting that it is only a matter of time before police will be able to sniff out crime artificially.
One bright spot for scent libertarians: the Times says "Lopez's Glow range and Chanel No 5" mask natural smells and confuse detector dogs, so they'll likely prove a large tripping point in the development of such a thing as an artificial nose.
It also says the nose could theoretically detect the smells of certain diseases or disorders, like cancer or depression.
Always a double-edged sword, this tech-knowledge of our's. *sigh*
-- Stephen C. Webster
It's good to know that our American government has such an abundance of cash to spend on yet more high-tech military-industrial complex equipment. There's just no end to how much taxpayer money we can spend on the military, police and prisons. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin would be so proud of us.
The title is right on, this is something you might expect in George Orwells Nineteen Eighty Four book.
What about those that are afraid of flying?
I smell fear -- and it's coming from Big Brother.
Yeah, what loudpatriot said. I'm sure they could smell my fear if they didn't alreaty notice my white knuckles.
[...] via The Raw Story » Big Brother wants to smell your fear. [...]
I'd be willing to bet this is being proposed by a Bush appointee. Because it's a major waste of time and a definate failure from the start. It pains me to know that there are individuals out there that even think such a thing could work. Saying that ""Lopez's Glow range and Chanel No 5" mask natural smells" only scratches the surface of how useless the device would be.
No problem: I don't fly anymore.
So, theoreticly is could smell defeat?
Ooh, you know what they should do next? They should get people to use their psychic senses to detect who is likely to commit a crime. Then we can just prosecute them for thinking about it. Oh wait... that was Minority Report.
Psychopaths probably don't become afraid when they're planning their acts. Good luck with smelling their "fear." They don't have it.
WTF?
DO they not realize that if they suceed it will be applied by all kinds of assholes?
I'll give them something to smell. Can a robot vomit? Seriously, I fly out of Tijuana anymore. On a mexican airline the women are friendly, no one is worried that some nutball federal agent is going to empty a clip into their head foe hiccuping. You can make connections to anywhere in Mex City, and you save a couple bucks
[...] source: Times Online picked up: Raw Story [...]
Well, I intend to eat a lot more fibre before any visit to a government facility. Beans, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, I'll give big bro something to smell!!!
Is this going to be used as some sorta torture device? How exactly can this be useful?
Or is it going to be a political torture device?
And to claim its going to be used on terrorists who are prepared to die to accomplish their goals, what fear are they hoping to detect? I don't see how this stops a suicide bomber or fearless terrorist.
But I do see how this could be used as a torture device. Once they know you fear snakes, spiders, dogs or whatever it is, they can use that to torture you forever. In my opinion this sorta stuff should be banned for the same reason chemical weapons and biological weapons should. If we detect hatred thats one thing, even detecting intent is perhaps useful in war, but what is the purpose of detecting fear?
I'm open to any alternative ideas on how this can be used, I just cannot think of anything good.
Steve Southwell please don't give them any ideas. I'm convinced they will try anything. They will resort to creating a clone Army to fight terrorism at this point.
I'd rather live with the risk of getting blown up than have to live with thought police.
And we thought East Germany was no more, it seems to have simply moved.
So many people are afraid of flying, they will have to build huge pens to hold all the captives under this program. There will be more of us inside the pen than outside.
I am afraid of airport security guards. I often land on the No-FLy watch list and have been treated rather harshly by these people. I have learned to be afraid everytime I fly. I am a public school teacher of 30 years and am nearing retirement. Hoping to travel in my senior years is suddenly out of the question.
Smell my finger, Uncle Sam.
April Foolz
Our tax money is wasted again paying for someone to come up with this insanity.
Man, the Republican Party is really going to keep their Sniff-O-Matic on the go. They reek of fear.
Smell Cheney.
[...] Source: RawStory [...]
It can also detect the fear of people who are aware of these machines and the widespread abuses by police (the literate).
"Yes, sir, I think he pooped his pants. "
The first time the WTC was attacked, it was with a truck loaded with explosives. The second attack was airplanes. It was common knowledge, for anyone who bothered to look, that before 9/11 the policy was to give aircraft over to hijackers to protect the lives of the passengers. I don't think a few guys with boxcutters will ever be able to take over a plane again. I'm sure that any would be terrorists know that too. The airport show is just that; a show. 9/11 was used as a way for government to garner more power and control.
First of all, this is ridiculous. Aside from the obvious "Orwellianess" of the whole stupid idea, this makes no sense (or scents- sorry, could't resist). What if you're somebody who's afraid of flying? I'll do it but I don't exactly love it. What if you have other problems and are stressed out and worried about them? Will this "nose" be able to distinguish between different types of fear and anxiety?
Also, what a waste of $$. There is already a nose for this kind of thing and it comes with a tail and 4 legs attached. Dogs can already do amazing things with their sense of scent and there's plenty of anecdotal evidence that they can even smell cancer in humans. Why couldn't they be trained to sniff out the scent of fear? (There are those who feel they already can, that it's an inherent trait in most dogs. ) I wonder who stands to line their pockets from this absolutely ludicrous endeavor because I would bet my life it will be lucrative for somebody who's already involved.
These are just the pragmatic flaws with the program, mind you. Aside from that, the whole idea makes me ill on too many levels to recount....
[...] The story continues ….. [...]