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submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by PierceTheBubble@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

I wish to have a discussion about how physical surveillance affects you in your day-to-day life; apart from Flock and (Ring) doorbell cameras (which I believe are pretty established at this point). This in context with your country of residence, and whether in a rural or densely populated area (as ("smart") cities typically "progress" at a faster rate).

I live in a medium-sized village, in a low-density area of The Netherlands. I rarely travel long distances and visit cities, but despite that, I'm increasingly confronted with surveillance infrastructure. Maybe it's because I know too much about it, and I no longer have the option to be unaware of it, but it eats at me on a daily basis.

Most notable is surveillance surrounding highways, especially: the increased density of radar sensors (which, on their own, might not reveal much about individuals; but could reveal one's progression when paired to ALPR data, for instance), "focusflitsers" (a (mobile) array of thermal-imaging cameras: peering through a vehicle's windshield, supposedly patrolling phone-usage during driving, but also featuring an ALPR (which also captures the driver, besides the license plate of course), and may also be used to record speed-indications (to identify "verkeershufters": roughly translating to "traffic jerks")), dedicated (mobile or stationary) ALPR cameras (supposedly only for detecting warranted vehicles or "hits": unless published in the police's "cameraplan"), "trajectcontroles" (average speed monitoring: essentially two sets of ALPRs, calculating the average time between readings), and (now) digital speed cameras (typically at intersections: instead of adapting road design...). But I'm glad I trust my government to only store "hits" and those in violation... /s

Other than that, I've spotted ALPRs (alongside an increasing number of PTZ cameras) at gas stations and above infrastructure (like bridges), but also built within boom gates before parking areas or recycling centers (behind a little square of darkened glass: in the base of the gate); and in, and surrounding retail areas (especially supermarkets) the number of cameras have risen (including the cameras at the self-checkout lanes: staring customers straight in the face; supposedly to discourage theft, but considering the "pay by face" concept, I fear it's in preparation thereof). Buses, structurally driving through my street, also have (exterior) camera side-mirrors, and therefore frequently capture me. And finally the eyesore that is public-facing home-surveillance systems (despite legally not allowed to, but of course not actively being enforced: as the government would shoot itself in the foot if it did).

That was my little rant, please feel free to leave yours below in the comments; I'm somewhat desperate to hear it. I'm especially interested in stories from Denmark: as even my mom (despite of the "I've got nothing to hide" type) noticed "average speed monitoring" cameras all throughout the country, and "speed cameras" being at the entrance of villages (which I believe you aren't allowed to be notified about in navigation programs: which is also insane to me), when she was there on a holiday. Please be very critical of every camera you're confronted with, including those that appear to have been there for your entire life. It's safe to assume every camera (including old "analog" cameras: through encoders) feed back into modern, digital surveillance platforms: which allow the footage to be actively monitored by AI (often to potentially trigger an alert, which an operator could respond to), possibly retained for an extended period of time (especially when considered evidence, it may be stored long-term: on a centralized server and/or cloud storage), and is shared effortlessly over the internet (instead of requiring physical transfer).

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[-] Cherry@piefed.social 11 points 5 days ago

The car thing bothers me. I have purposely chose an old non smart car, but given I have a license plate i am still monitored. I am seeing a lot just randomly on roadsides and I live kinda regional.

As for out in public, I have been considering a really light mouth mask, glasses and a hat. I thought I was crazy...I really thought i was turning into an irrational paranoid person.

Can't shop online as I cant stand online shopping and algorithms anymore, plus i prefer to shop local.

Its like a trap.

[-] PierceTheBubble@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Same, despite all the (financial) incentives to get me to drive electric (including self-induced gasoline price-hiking). Do you mind expanding on what it is you're seeing at roadsides, and in what country this takes place?

As for out in public, I have been considering a really light mouth mask, glasses and a hat. I thought I was crazy…I really thought i was turning into an irrational paranoid person.

I've also been there, and honestly there might be something to it, but I feel like automated systems might ironically keep a closer eye, on those wearing: a mouth mask (thanks to training-data from the COVID pandemic), glasses, and a hat. And I have no answer to it when pay-by-face (which self-checkout registers here could already do technically) becomes widely adopted. For now I completely avoid said registers (despite the manned ones also having a camera nearby, but at least not ~50cm from my face); but entries to (public) transit terminals also increasingly have cameras at facial height (which might also be in preparation of pay-by-face). So in the not so distant future, your face may be captured with every transaction (whether you use the system or not: as the camera remains in place).

It seems like concepts from e-commerce are ported to the physical world: primarily the customer tracking and digital payments. And perhaps the entire web has been a simulation, in preparation for the digitization of the physical world. It's quite difficult to make a payment anonymously online: customer details may be shared across web shops (to check for irregularities: potentially raising a red flag, prompting the customer to supply more details), and orders are increasingly fulfilled by centralized fulfillment centers (which take the details from "independent" shops, and know exactly what goes in your box, because they store and package the products). So perhaps we should "enjoy" physical shopping while we can, because online shopping seems to be the basis for future physical shopping (that is if shops don't go delivery or pick-up only: similar to during the COVID pandemic; which goes for some IKEAs are around here).

[-] u9000@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 days ago

Make sure to cover the T of the bridge of your nose and the eyebrow ridge, and your ears

this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026
64 points (98.5% liked)

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