News Big Brother in Disneyland?

[brenden]

From this article: The new totalitarianism of surveillance technology | Naomi Wolf | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

A software engineer in my Facebook community wrote recently about his outrage that when he visited Disneyland, and went on a ride,

Is there any truth to this? Has anyone had a similar experience?

[traumwelt]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Really? With the credit card information attached? I hope there is a misunderstanding... I'm curious too.

[chris001]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Sounds totally implausible. I am sure there are multiple databases that store facial information on known criminals, terrorists, etc. That there is readily available data on joe q citizen, all 7+ billion of them doesn't pass a giggle test. Unless of course this individual is flagged for being a baddy somewhere, I call B.S.

I am sure there are several experts that can weigh in on the legal ramifications of something like this. Can't imagine this would get past corporate lawyers even if it were remotely possible.

[Timicus]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Is is possible? Sure. Did it happen? Doubt it. The article links to another story proclaiming that this form of tracking has been proven true at Disney. Although, if you click on the link it leads you to a story about WDW biometric scanners and tickets. Facial recognition is useless without a database. Is there an explanation where Disney conjured this information without him ever giving said information to Disney (unless he has given it to a company held by them).

I do find it improbable that if this activity were happening it hadn't already been used for APs. Heck, they still ask for picture ID when using a credit card with an AP at Disneyland.

[HMF]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

NEXTGEN must already be testing at Disneyland.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

If you want a real smorgasbord of urban myth and paranoia, check out the spookfest in OccupyCorporatism.com, the link cited in the Guardian article as "proof" that the Facebook story is true.

Just one tasty morsel:

The DOD has also been working in conjunction with Disney to collect information on Beta testing operations that the popular theme park uses on their customers. Best of all, who would ever suspect Disney of being a front for the US government?

Through the Freedom of Information Act, the Disney Corporation hands over to the DOD all data on their customers. The DOD has an overabundance of information on the general public going back decades thanks to their relationship with Disney. After the DOD analyses and profiles their data from Disney, it is ready to be used to the US government for whatever purposes they deem fit....

To the average American, a trip to Disney is a vacation of a lifetime. This makes the theme parks the perfect cover for the DOD and other US government agencies to continuously collect data on the general public through their unwitting participation.

Calling Dr. Howard, Dr.Fine, Dr.Howard Dr. Byers, Dr. Frohike, Dr. Langly!

[Disneytwins]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

I definitely am LOLing at this.
Would Disney spend so much money on a system that they knew was illegal and easily detectable?

I think he's overly confused on the whole system. Are you sure he didn't confuse it with them charging it to his room?

[ScottG]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

If he were staying at a DLR hotel and they had his CC info on file then I can see this being totally plausible and nothing out of the ordinary. Now if the story is trying to say they used facial recognition and attached his CC info then I call baloney.

[Hot Sauce 1]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

I think the fact that none of us, including myself think this is plausible or that Disney would do it is what makes it so possible that they would be doing it.

[swampymarsh]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

If I was to guess.

This happened at WDW. He got off a ride like Splash. His onride picture was on the screens. Then he handed them his KTTW card that's attached to his credit card. Nothing exceptional.


As far as the article, it's very poorly written and researched. Where is Disneyland?

[AhpalovestheDuck]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

While I am LMAO, I am sure he really thinks this really happened. What really happened is another story.

[patton45]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Looking forward to seeing SkyNet in Tomorrowland....:yea:

[explodingboy]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Calling Snopes..

[mouseknotts]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

The story that the OP posted is to put it nicely is full of holes. First it is the clasic, form of I know someone who knows something. Those often are false.
Second if Disneyland had that technology, I would have not had to put down a payment for my photo from splash mountain in July. They have my photo as I am an AP. And I have used my credit card in the parks.
What I find interesting is the romor I heard is it is Facebook who is working with facial recognition. But then we all know how reliable romors and the internet can be.

[swampymarsh]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

What I find interesting is the rumor I heard is it is Facebook who is working with facial recognition

This is true. Have you ever had FB ask if this is you in a picture?

Anyway this was ruled illegal in Germany yesterday thus illegal in the EU. In the US and other countries it may stay or be removed sytem wide.

[dougeebear]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Through the Freedom of Information Act, the Disney Corporation hands over to the DOD all data on their customers. The DOD has an overabundance of information on the general public going back decades thanks to their relationship with Disney. After the DOD analyses and profiles their data from Disney, it is ready to be used to the US government for whatever purposes they deem fit....

That is not how the Freedom of Information Act (FIA) works. Through the FIA, the public can request documents from the government, often heavily redacted. The public cannot demand corporate information from companies, nor can the government. Such information, if requested, is either willingly supplied by the private corporation or by subpoena.

I call tinhat foolishness.

[techskip]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

possible, yes, probable, no. RT was doing a story on WikiLeaks DOS attacks because they posted MAJOR leaks about the Trapwire program... enjoy the read

WIKILEAKS: Surveillance Cameras Around The Country Are Being Used In A Huge Spy Network - Business Insider

Here's the less dramatic NY Times piece

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/us/trapwire-antiterrorist-software-leaks-set-off-web-furor.html

And before you toss on a tinfoil hat, enjoy this one
Examining the ties between TrapWire, Abraxas and Anonymizer | ZDNet

BUT... if you just want the breakdown from the horse's mouth go here and see who they work with (under "markets"
TrapWire

Bottom line is that a network like this is entirely possible, and may already be operational. But I HIGHLY doubt Disney utilized a system like this to scare a random tourist on Splash Mountain.

[ccinsf]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

Darn. I thought Julie Chen had visited the park.

[lisaboo]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

I highly doubt it. In fact, I was kind of shocked at how low-tech security really is at the parks. When we went in January we had my husband drop us off and pick us up in the Drop-off lot and then he would go and park the car, that way we didn't have break down the double stroller with two small children in a hurry to get on and off the trams. One night after park closing there was guy out there intimidating all the families who were waiting to be picked up (all women and children of various ages, I guess they all had the same idea we did). We weren't sure what the number for security was, but a cast member happened to be walking by so we asked him to call security, as we did this the guy finally decided to take off. We asked if they could see on cameras what the guy looked like so they could track him down or at least come back out and shoo him away if he tried it again. (The guy was getting in people's faces, almost running over little kids with his motorized wheelchair and flipped off my two-year-old.) The cast member said they did not have cameras in that area of the resort, which I was pretty surpised about. Two security guards came out and walked down Harbor looking for the guy but came back and said he was long gone. They took our statement and it seemed like they were familiar with this guy. I guess he wasn't actually breaking any laws, but there were at least three families who were very frightened by him and it could have escalated.

So, all of that is to say, if they can't keep troublemakers off the property using cameras, then I highly doubt they are using facial recognition software to link to credit cards.

[flynnibus]

Re: Big Brother in Disneyland?

The technology exists of course... But this entirely completely bogus and so full of malarkey we shouldn't be giving it the time of day.

Freedom of information act to get info from Disney ? knuckleheads