>From a recent press release... "feeling of insecurity among the security forces" ?
-L. Civil Counter Reconnaissance Unit deployed at Vienna's Karlsplatz http://s-77ccr.org/ On Thursday, 13 May 2004, the Vienna-based Net culture platform Public Netbase presented the System-77 Civil Counter Reconnaissance (S-77CCR) installation, accompanied Projekt Atol Pact's Signal Server! opening performance. Project Atol Pact, headed by Marko Peljhan, is known for its conversion of military information technology for civilian purposes and has received several awards. S-77CCR represents a globally active consortium whose goal is to promote the use of surveillance technology by civil society, in contrast to the intransparent and anti-democratic employment of such technologies by public and private security agencies. The mobile surveillance unit uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for reconnaissance, giving the public a clear idea of how state-of-the-art control technologies are used. According to Marko Peljhan, “unmanned systems are a key technology on the path towards civilian space surveillance”. Inside the counter surveillance unit, electronic remote reconnaissance equipment and data analysis tools compound the UAV, with explanatory displays and on-screen descriptions offering information to the visitor. According to Konrad Becker, director of Public Netbase, “the project is an attempt to foster an understanding of art as socio political intervention in the public realm”. The Karlsplatz square, a point of convergence of urban conflict, offers an ideal environment for the installation, allowing it to address real points of reference. “The installation is under permanent police observation. According to a TV report, it has generated a feeling of insecurity among the security forces.” Ever since the projects beginnings, the S-77CCR principle “Eyes in the skies, democracy in the streets” has proved to be highly effective. “Vienna will be the focus of attention until 28 May. Instead of further curtailing fundamental rights, technologies will be used to strengthen democracy in the streets”, Becker concluded. # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
