Eyes in the Sky
by Arthur Holland Michel, L.J. Ganser · first published 2019
63% recommend38% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Traces the development of Gorgon Stare, a wide-area aerial surveillance system, and its military research origins; an interesting, well-sourced read for anyone curious about surveillance tech and its ramifications.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The fascinating history and unnerving future of high-tech aerial surveillance, from its secret military origins to its growing use on American citizens. "Eyes in the Sky is the authoritative account of how the Pentagon developed a godlike surveillance device that will someday be used over every major city on the planet. This new technology--and its most powerful iteration to date, Gorgon Stare--can track thousands of moving targets at once over vast areas, following you backward and forward in time to expose where you came from and where you're going. With a little help from AI, it will even
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You should read eyes in the sky: https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Sky-Secret-Gorgon-Stare/dp/05449... For some background about gorgon stare and WAMI (wide area motion imagery): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon_Stare Bizarrely enemy…
on “Where Wizards Stay up Late: The Origins of the Internet (1996)” ↗This wouldn’t make a difference. Read Eyes In The Sky or just generally about WAMI (wide area motion imagery): https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Sky-Secret-Gorgon-Stare/dp/05449.... There will have to be legislation around use and access in order to have any…
on “Secretive Surveillance Company Is Selling Cops Cameras Hidden in Gravestones” ↗…was also an inspiration, even a blueprint, for one of the most powerful surveillance technologies ever created. So contends technology writer and researcher Arthur Holland Michel in his compelling book Eyes in the Sky. He notes that a researcher (unnamed) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California who saw the movie at its debut decided to “explore — theoretically, at first — how emerging digital-imaging…
on “De-Escalation Keeps Protesters and Police Safer” ↗…especially not that can be remotely accessed, though we're getting there; also, satellites or drones can't be retasked instantly[2]) [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDgIpSFtUos [2] ETA: Agreed, Eyes in the Sky is a great book detailing Gorgon Stare, but that requires pre-deployment of drone(s) and only became operational this decade. I agree it's situational irony that people saw Enemy of the State as a roadmap…
on “Where Wizards Stay up Late: The Origins of the Internet (1996)” ↗There’s an excellent book on this surveillance technology and the ramifications called Eyes in the Sky. Talks about the military’s development of Gorgon Stare and many of the domestic startups using the similar technology to watch us.
on “Surveillance plane starts flying over Baltimore” ↗Take a look at Eyes in the Sky, it's an interesting read. https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Sky-Secret-Gorgon-Stare-ebook/dp...
on “Surveillance plane starts flying over Baltimore” ↗While there is a listing for Drones, I think they may need to add a category for when they are deployed in a Pervasive Wide Area mode like as in "Eyes in the Sky: The Secret Rise of Gorgon Stare and How It Will Watch Us All" [1] as trialed in Baltimore [2] sometime back. Who knows what the current state of play is for this? [1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40796190-eyes-in-the-sky…
on “Atlas of Surveillance” ↗"Country-wide full surveillance"? Maybe we have it already, but just don't know it yet. Search for "Gorgon Stare". It's featured in a new book called "Eyes in the Sky", and is said to have been used secretly over several cities in the US.
on “San Diego Implemented City-Wide Streetlight Surveillance” ↗> "Eyes in the Sky tells the story of a top-secret surveillance system that helped turn the tide in Iraq." Everyone loves a good under-dog story!
on “All Activities Monitored” ↗