Who’s watching you? California innovators lead on tech surveillance

By James Poulos | Cal Watchdog

Some of California’s lesser-known players in tech have seized the initiative in shaping the nation’s surveillance culture.

Many Americans are familiar with the Taser, a nonlethal device used by law enforcement to shock and immobilize. Fewer are aware that the Taser is the creation of a company with the same name — or that the Taser corporation runs a division devoted to wearable and cloud-powered monitoring devices. Known as Evidence.com, the division works closely with police departments across the country to facilitate data management, including data obtained in the course of “evidence gathering.”

From the sound of its sales pitch, Evidence.com doesn’t put civil liberties front and center. After all, it promises law enforcement agencies the ability to “capture anything anywhere.”

at Cal Watchdog.