Online Surveillance Tools

Law enforcement and intelligence online data room agencies use surveillance tools that are online to track, record, and analyze digital activity. They include software applications for online security as well as hardware cameras that connect to a server in order to store and manage information. Surveillance systems can be used to locate a person, identify their physical characteristics, and identify any suspicious behavior. They can be used to identify potential theft and sabotage of sensitive information.

Governments must ensure that the design, procurement and operation of surveillance technologies is guided by respect of human rights and privacy principles, including the protection of bodily autonomy, avoiding interference with personal freedoms, and keeping to a minimum the collection and storage of information. This means establishing clear limits on the information that is collected and ensuring that the technology is only utilized when it is proportionate in order to achieve legitimate goals in a specific context, and providing legal advice to those who are concerned about its use.

Human rights groups believe that the widespread use of these tools could cause police officers to abuse their discretion and power. There are a number of US agencies have reportedly utilized surveillance software, including facial recognition and social media mining, to screen travelers and citizens in public areas, or to monitor protesters and activists.

BrickHouse Security offers a variety of counter surveillance tools to safeguard privacy and prevent unwanted monitoring. These include portable detectors that can sweep a space within a matter of seconds for hidden cameras, as well as white noise masking devices which block recording devices from picking voices up.