Berlin activists create CCTV-smashing street game:

Activists in Berlin have created a game called Camover where they move through public spaces in disguise, smashing CCTV cameras, recording the act and uploading it to YouTube for points.

The rules of Camover are simple: mobilise a crew and think of a name that starts with “command”, “brigade” or “cell”, followed by the moniker of a historical figure (Van der Lubbe, a Dutch bricklayer convicted of setting fire to the Reichstag in 1933, is one name being used). Then destroy as many CCTV cameras as you can. Concealing your identity, while not essential, is recommended. Finally, video your trail of destruction and post it on the game’s website – although even keeping track of the homepage can be a challenge in itself, as it is continually being shut down.

East Germany withered under the punishing, spying gaze of the Stasi, whose surveillance was always couched in the language of “public protection” and “crime solving.” Today, the CCTVs used by commercial firms are an extension of government surveillance, because their footage can be seized, often in secret, in the name of “fighting terror” and similar rubrics.

Game to destroy CCTV cameras: vandalism or valid protest?

January 26, 2013:

Whee!

January 25, 2013:

Thanks again, everyone! Remember, every little bit makes the book better. There are already at least 10 exclusive comics going into it 🙂

[This is really awesome news. -egg]
When it comes to cloud data, Google tells the Feds to come back with a warrant:

Google’s latest transparency report reveals that the company has refused to turn over stored email to law enforcement unless a warrant is presented. The ancient Electronic Communications Privacy Act assumes that any file stored on a server for more than six months is abandoned and can be requested without a warrant, and Congress has refused to modernize this law for the age of Gmail and cloud storage (law enforcement agencies love the fact that most of your life can be fetched without having to show cause to a judge).

Google has refused to comply with warrantless requests for its users’ stored cloud data, and instead demands that law enforcement officers get a warrant.

Google demands probable-cause, court-issued warrants to divulge the contents of Gmail and other cloud-stored documents to authorities in the United States — a startling revelation Wednesday that runs counter to federal law that does not always demand warrants.

The development surfaced as Google publicly announced that more than two-thirds of the user data Google forwards to government agencies across the United States is handed over without a probable-cause warrant.

A Google spokesman told Wired that the media giant demands that government agencies — from the locals to the feds — get a probable-cause warrant for content on its e-mail, Google Drive cloud storage and other platforms — despite the Electronic Communications Privacy Act allowing the government to access such customer data without a warrant if it’s stored on Google’s servers for more than 180 days.

“Google requires an ECPA search warrant for contents of Gmail and other services based on the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, which prevents unreasonable search and seizure,” Chris Gaither, a Google spokesman, said.

I can’t stress how exciting a development this is. Google has historically reserved the right to give docs to law enforcement without a warrant in its terms of service. Indeed, a group of authors asked the court to block the Google Books Settlement unless Google promised not to hand over your reading habits without a warrant. Google refused to do so. It would be wonderful to see Google enshrine “Come back with a warrant” in its terms of service, making it a promise and not just a habit.

Google Tells Cops to Get Warrants for User E-Mail, Cloud Data [Wired/David Kravets]

Both the Left and the Right are at war with science: Michael Shermer on why neither side of the American political spectrum gets a pass when it comes to acceptance of science. Includes this interesting (and often overlooked) detail from recent national polls — 41 percent of Democrats are young-Earth Creationists.

Gemma, a 1″ diameter Arduino-compatible board for wearable electronics:

Adafruit has announced “Gemma,” a bite-sized, Arduino compatible board intended for use in wearable electronics projects. It measures 1″ in diameter, and while it’s not shipping yet, they’re taking names for people who want to get ’em when they ship:

*
Powered by the ATtiny85 with 3 available I/O pins, one of which is also an analog input and two which can do PWM output*

Progammable over the micro USB connection*

Onboard 3.3v Regulator and power LED*

Reset button*

Works with our Flora NeoPixels (can drive about a dozen – not much RAM!)*

Super tiny design, only 1″ (25mm) diameter & 4mm thick

Adafruit Gemma – Miniature wearable electronic platform

(Thanks, Matthew!)