Chicago to buy spying street lamps

June 25, 2014 in Video by The Manimal

The city of Chicago plans to implement a new system monitoring weather, noise and pollution levels, that is raising privacy concerns among some civil liberties advocates. Devices will be placed on streetlamps that will in addition to collecting data on atmospheric conditions, will also detect the WiFi signals emanating from smartphones users who walked underneath the sensors. Although designed to a benign system that will protect privacy and collect information to be used in urban planning and other areas, some are concerned about how it may be used in the future. Ameera David discusses the possibilities with RT Producer Tyrel Ventura.