You can’t prevent people from recording you, but you can stay aware of your surroundings to identify potential cameras.
For the [fill-in-the-blank] on your list
🫡 I’m a good gifter, here to help you check those hard-to-please folks off your list all week long.
- Cook: They have fancy salts, pans and oil. What about a nice chef-style apron? Great colors and works for guys and gals.
- Health nut: The Oura ring (22% off) tracks sleep, movement and workouts. If you want fall detection, get an Apple Watch instead.
- Camper: Make their backyard way more fun with a Solo Stove firepit (20% off).
- Scatterbrain: AirTags are amazing. I have at least a dozen. A four-pack is on sale (26% off), which doesn’t happen often.
- Gen Zer: Cameras are back in. This retro Kodak for around $40 is easy to use and takes way better pics than a disposable.
✅ Hit my Amazon storefront for more gift ideas. I’m adding new ones every day!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
📸 Go, go, Android camera: This works on many Android smartphone models, including the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy. Double-tap the power button to launch the camera, then use either the volume-up or volume-down button to take a snap. Easy!
Why '1984' is no longer just a tech cliché
Think ‘Big Brother’ references are overused? Not when Oracle founder Larry Ellison starts talking about global surveillance through AI-powered cameras. Here’s the story.
🕵️ The internet is on the case: The shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, has every corner of the true-crime web playing detective. Amateur sleuths are investigating CCTV footage of the gunman to determine his possible motives. Warning: There are so many conspiracy theories out there, ranging from the shooter being denied gender-affirming medical care to Thompson’s wife wanting him dead before their upcoming divorce. Only believe and share credible reports.
Google’s Street View relies on cars with multiple cameras for its pics. What was the first animal Google hired to capture a place they couldn’t access by car? Was it a … A.) Bird, B.) Camel, C.) Gorilla or D.) Penguin?
$299
For a toilet camera that will monitor your gut health by photographing your poop. Yep, you read that correctly. Throne uses AI to analyze your stool’s size, shape and structure, and it sends the data to an app on your phone, where you can view the results. Talk about logging your logs!
Airbnb won't stop hidden cams
At this point, I don’t even want to risk it. There are just too many scary stories — and I once stayed in a place loaded with cameras! Luckily, I was savvy enough to spot them.
🛒 AI-tention, shoppers: The Caper Cart is wired with AI-powered cameras and scanners that apply coupons, weigh your produce and pay right from your handlebar. Instacart owns it and paid around $350 million for the tech. If only the carts could return themselves.
Have an iPhone 14 Plus? There’s a problem with the rear cameras on phones manufactured between Apr. 10, 2023, and Apr. 28, 2024. Use this serial number checker to see if yours needs the free fix.
Security camera warning: Hackers found two security flaws in PTZOptics’ livestreaming cameras, used primarily in business, industrial and health care settings. Once inside, hackers can fully control the cameras, install malware, interrupt the feeds or use a camera as a gateway to other devices on the network. Have one? Contact your vendor to confirm its firmware is up to date.
👁️ Billionaire Larry Ellison’s prediction: He says AI will power a massive surveillance system to monitor all of us. Doorbell cameras, police body cams, dashcams — you name it — will be analyzed to keep everyone in check. If something’s off, the AI will report it to the “appropriate” authority (paywall link). Yikes.
🅿️ Police are towing Teslas from crime scenes: This is wild. When a Tesla is in Sentry mode, its onboard cameras capture what’s happening around the vehicle when there’s sound or movement detected. Police know that to get the footage, they need access to the USB drive in the glove box. If the owner is MIA, cops get a search warrant and tow the EV into evidence.
📸 You look fabulous, dahling: The flash on most cameras and phones makes harsh shadows. Bright idea: Diffuse the light through something like a white plastic shopping bag for a softer look. Just don’t cover the lens!
Take pro pics with smartphone lenses
While today’s phone cameras are pretty amazing on their own, getting a few add-ons can take your pics to the next level.
When a Superhost is super creepy: Airbnb Superhosts have high ratings and low cancellation rates. One in Texas recorded over 2,000 images using security cameras of adults and children sleeping and undressing. He got a year in jail for it.
Hidden cameras in your bushes
Criminals want to get to know your schedule … so they know exactly the right time to attack. Beware of camouflaged cameras recording every time you leave the house.
Get your head out of your apps: America’s first smart highway is coming to Interstate 94 in Michigan. This three-mile stretch will have sensors and cameras to alert drivers of traffic jams, accidents and obstacles. The tech will connect to most modern cars with built-in navigation features. No one’s talking about data tracking.
Say cheese: Thanks to the 20-something TikTok crowd, Fujifilm’s retro-themed cameras, like the X100, are selling like hotcakes. They’re such a hit that Fujifilm is struggling to meet demand, even at $1,599 a pop.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
📸 Sayonara, snoops: A Japanese sportswear brand just launched infrared-blocking fabric to protect athletes from creepy photographers looking to take naked pics. Clothes already block visible light, but this new material stops thermal cameras from capturing heat signatures. Neat, right?