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I'm not so sure I agree that's overly ethically gray - it's EM radiation detection just like using any other camera or eyeballs, only at different wavelengths.
by fisherjeff 11y ago
I'm not so sure I agree that's overly ethically gray - it's EM radiation detection just like using any other camera or eyeballs, only at different wavelengths.
X-ray imaging, on the other hand, seems FAR more ethically gray to me, especially given the potential public health consequences.
- alexbock 11y agoThe Supreme Court seems to think thermal is special compared to visible wavelengths [0]. Note that this ruling would probably be overturned now that smartphone thermal imaging accessories are under $200 [1]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States [1] http://www.flir.com/flirone/ http://www.flir.com/flirone/
- beeboop 11y agoConsidering thermal imaging was considered a search requiring a warrant, it would make sense for any sort of detection not available to normal human senses to be a search. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States
- kansface 11y agoWhat about dogs?
- beeboop 11y agoThe supreme court had issue with the thermal devices because they weren't generally available to the public. Dogs are generally available and they're smelling things outside your home/car where they don't need a warrant.
- TeMPOraL 11y agoThis is interesting. You have to add an extra filter to make a camera stop seeing infrared. How it was determined thermal devices aren't generally available?
- talmand 11y agoI would assume the reasoning was that if you can't go to the local electronics store and buy the item in use by police, then it isn't commonly available to the public. But, from my quick reading of the case details, the outcome of that case is pure crap.
- spacehome 11y agoIt doesn't seem like a grey area to me, if they're doing it without informed consent.
- arprocter 11y agoI wonder what the protocol is when the X-ray van 'sees' something sketchy - "Driver, I have a sudden suspicion there's something hidden inside the door of your car..."