4um: Hidden Cameras in DTV Converters? YouTube Hoax Fans Conspiracy Fears. Thank you Alex Jones. What did you say about it?

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: 601
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.

"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." (1 image)

http://www.prisonplanet.com/hidden-spy-camera-mic-found-inside-digital-tv- box.html

and here is the mirrored, google cache of the original article, (linked from the wired blog,) which AJ scrapped after realizing it was a hoax:

But even the orignal story states that the disputed validity of this youtube vid does not take away from the proven facts:

A popular video circulating on You Tube shows the discovery of a spy camera and a microphone hidden inside a digital TV converter box. Such devices are part of a government and industry surveillance program that is undoubtedly connected to the forced digital TV switchover being rolled out in the UK and US.

“I could not believe my eyes,” states the blurb accompanying the video clip, “I have a friend who is kind of a conspiracy theorist. He was trying to convince me that many of the digital TV convert boxes that are coming out have microphones and cameras built into them. Knowing a bit about electronics I bought one of these devices opened it up fully intending on proving him wrong. To my surprise he was right. This device has both a miniature camera lens and what looks like a microphone. I was so shocked I took pictures and video. Please send this out to everyone you know who is using one of these devices.”

The camera and microphone were hidden inside a MAGNAVOX TB110MW9 Digital to Analog Converter box. We are not suggesting that every digital cable box has a spy camera and microphone inside, so ripping open your cable box is not a good way to prove this one way or another - but the fact remains that companies like Google and Comcast have openly announced that they plan to use hidden cameras and microphones inside their products to spy on consumers.

Broadband sees key to home security. (News).

There's more than just entertainment coming down the broadband highway into consumers' homes. Broadband-linked homes could also be a lot safer in the not-too-distant future.

"Traditional home security systems are connected from the home to the security company or a police station via an RF connection over a phone or power line, but a broadband link versus a dial-up connection definitely provides value to consumers for home security," says Navin Sabharwal, director-residential and networking technologies at Allied Business Intelligence.

"Using the Internet as a gateway to the home security system is nothing new -- ADT's been doing it for some time now," Sabharwal adds. "What is new is what broadband brings to the table. While security data packets only require low bandwidth to be transmitted, the advantage to broadband is it's always on -- other connections are more vulnerable. Broadband also easily facilitates access to closed circuit televisions or streaming video. This offers more convenience to consumers, as they want the flexibility to control their home networks remotely."

That's what attracted Jerry Lindauer and William Glasgow, two former Prime Cable executives, to launch @Security Broadband in June 1999. Cox Communications recently began testing their broadband-based security technology in Las Vegas with the goal of introducing the @Security service later this year.

"Our system doesn't tie up the phone line," says @Security CEO Glasgow. "We will provide a new, non-competing revenue stream while enabling [cable operators] to provide a service that will enhance their value proposition to their customers."

"Cox believes the cable market is ready for this technology," says Jeff Brown, Cox director-business development. "Leveraging off our broadband investment, we hope to deliver a new, state-of-the-art product."

The Austin, Texas-based startup aims to create the next generation of home security products by tapping into high-speed broadband Internet's audio and video capabilities. Besides offering audio and video alarm verification, @Security provides Web- ready in-home cameras and two-way microphones along with 24-hour monitoring and a secure password-protected Web site with a remote system.

The service allows cable broadband subscribers to arm or disarm their systems by accessing up to four cameras to monitor their homes via an Internet connection. The system could also be used to monitor caregivers or elderly family members at home.

Glasgow and Lindauer estimate their add-on security feature could provide as much as $100 incremental cash flow per cable customer.

Security's founders have raised more than $14 million from venture capitalists and cable operators to fund technology research and integration, conduct consumer research and explore security and safety content opportunities.

Cable investors include Cox Communications, Comcast, Adelphia Communications, Cablevision Systems and Charter Communications.

Lindauer and Glasgow aren't the only ones plying the broadband home security market. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Home Director unveiled the software applications it is developing for security and other networking features via gateway and set-top boxes.

The Morrisville, N.C.-based company is creating home networking integration products -- software and hardware -- for cable modem systems and advanced digital set-top boxes. The company is working with Motorola to integrate its software applications in DCT-5000+set-top boxes.

Home Director's software allows users to connect to and control a home's networked systems via the Internet. Users have live access to their at- home security devices along with entertainment and communications features.

"Packaged solutions make home networking easy," says Mary Walker, Home Director's president/CEO. "By developing product bundles that build off a home networking foundation, we are able to offer solutions that give homeowners the useful applications they want at the prices they can afford."

The company's communication networking hardware and software package is available now, while its home security and entertainment packages are slated for release by the end of the first quarter of 2001, according to Home Director public relations manager Scott Yates.