See other Activism Articles
Title: Hidden Cameras in DTV Converters? YouTube Hoax Fans Conspiracy Fears. Thank you Alex Jones. What did you say about it?
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/02/dtv-converters.html
Published: Feb 24, 2009
Author: .
Post Date: 2009-02-24 12:26:42 by PSUSA
Keywords: None
Views: 797
Comments: 30
Ever wonder what the government is really up to paying for all those digital TV converter boxes? Last week a Spokane, Washington man claimed he'd discovered the horrifying truth, and he produced a YouTube video to prove it. In a 90-second video that's popping up on tin-foil-hat sites everywhere, 28-year-old software engineer Adam Chronister is seen cracking open his government-subsidized Magnavox converter, and revealing to the world the tiny video camera and microphone hidden inside. "I had a friend who was trying to tell me that they put cameras in these things," Chronister narrates in a deadly-serious monotone. "So what I did was open it up to prove them wrong, and lo and behold ... this thing does in fact have both a camera and a microphone. " His finger points at a small lens attached to a transformer in the guts of the unit. The video instantly went viral, tapping into a current of DTV conspiracy theory that's been building online since the government started issuing $40 converter box coupons last summer. So far, the U.S. has spent $1.3 billion subsidizing the boxes that will keep TV lovers watching CSI when the last broadcasters shut off their analog transmissions in June. The huge government effort to put a -- mysterious, to many -- piece of technology in millions of American homes has spurred conspiracy theories ranging from a mind control experiments to mass telescreen surveillance. Last week Chronister's video was promoted on the conspiracy-friendly Alex Jones radio show, and as of Monday the clip has chalked up almost 200,000 views and over 850 comments, many skeptical, but an equal number expressing alarm. "This is nuts! I had an odd feeling when the government planned to pay for everyone [to] get one of these," wrote one viewer. "Yup, that's a camera, and a mic. Holy shit. I am taking my DVR apart tonight," added another. In an interview with Threat Level, Chronister admits the whole thing was a hoax, concocted in about five minutes with a hot glue gun and parts from an old cell phone. The reaction surprised even him. "I was listening to the Alex Jones show ... and I heard him mention the video," Chronister says. "I just about fell out of the shower." Chronister says the video is partially true: A friend really did share the rumor about hidden camera in the DTV converters. "I originally opened up the device with the intention of proving him wrong," says Chronister. "At which point the thought popped in my head, wouldn't it be funny if I proved him right instead?" Observers in more technical forums like BroadbandReports.com have dissected the video and easily discerned that it's a hoax, with some taking apart their own converter boxes to provide proof. But even as posts debunking the clip roll into his YouTube comments, some remain convinced of its veracity. "There are still people defending the video," he says. As a sometimes-believer of conspiracy theories himself, Chronister is sympathetic. But critics charge that Chronister's prank only provides a smoke screen for genuine government wrongdoing. He's more worried about a different kind of backlash. "I've seen videos go viral before, but I never thought some stupid little video I did would get popular like that," he says. "I'm waiting for the Magnavox police to come and haul me off or something."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: All (#0)
Did AJ give this any credibility? I dont know, I don't listen to his show. But I have a pretty good idea that he probably did...
#2. To: PSUSA (#1)
It's no surprise, really.
Maybe you should listen to his show. He predicted the WTC attacks two months before they happened. (You can check his archives.) AND PLEASE NOTE: ALEX DEBUNKED THIS ON HIS SHOW AS I WAS LISTENING AND REFERENCED AN ENGINEER WHO HAD TAKEN ONE OF THESE CONVERTORS APART AND FOUND THAT THE SNOOP CAMERA LENS REFERRED TO IN THIS HOAX WAS IN FACT AN INFRARED SENSOR LIKE THAT FOUND IN ANY ORDINARY CABLE BOX OR DVD PLAYER. ALEX JONES HAS PRONOUNCED THIS VIDEO TO BE A HOAX IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS. I'd advise my friends here to be alert for similars ops. The target of such hoaxes is the credibility and independence of the internet. With the current crowd of crooks and liars and enemies of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in office, you can be sure that further attacks on facts and truth are in the pipeline.
I listen to AJ's show regularly and heard him debunk this video, as randge said 'in no uncertain terms'. he actually spent a lot of time on it, discussing false stories that discredit in the minds of the public, real facts such as those he covers. Also, since the WIRED column had to iss e a correction about what Jones said, I doubt that infowars ever 'promoted' any 'hoax'. I would like to find the actual url and title of the video they posted. I bet it says hoax in the title. I actually assumed these devices were tracking devices until I heard his take on it. Not that i gave it a lot of thought since i dont even watch tv, but why would the government pay everyone to buy a box and attach it to their tv? I'm still not convinced it's benevolent, regardless of what anyone says. I know people who dont even believe in conspiracies say that that is suspicious.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Replies to Comment # 1. But I have a pretty good idea that he probably did...
#6. To: PSUSA (#1)
(Edited)
Did AJ give this any credibility? I dont know, I don't listen to his show. But I have a pretty good idea that he probably did...
#9. To: PSUSA, randge, Prefrontal Vortex (#1)
Did AJ give this any credibility? I dont know, I don't listen to his show. But I have a pretty good idea that he probably did...
End Trace Mode for Comment # 1.