In decades past, computers filled entire buildings. Now, you carry one around in your pocket that weighs less than the shoes on your feet.
But just like phones, one other type of tech has grown even smaller over time: cameras. You already know about the one in your smartphone, but tiny cameras are everywhere — and they’re often used in the creepiest ways. Tap or click to learn more about the threat of hidden cameras in our modern age.
Like it or not, spy tech is here to stay. The spooky part? You might not know just how far people are willing to go to record you. A government and law enforcement contractor recently had its spy camera catalog leaked, and the internet is stunned at its capabilities.
A company by the name of Special Services Group has been covertly selling hidden cameras to government and law enforcement agencies. These clandestine surveillance devices come in many shapes and sizes — including rocks, cans, streetlights and even tombstones.
At present, there’s no way to browse the company’s catalog to see what it’s offering. But an investigative report by Business Insider details a product pamphlet obtained by transparency nonprofit MuckRock.
The so-called “Black Book” was obtained via an open records request to the city of Irvine, California, which is where Special Services Group is located. Little is known about the company, which has federal contracts worth more than $2.5 million. But public records show its clients include agencies such as the FBI, DEA, Secret Service and ICE.
Here are some of the most bizarre and unorthodox spy tools sold by Special Services Group to authorities. If you’re going about your life and run into any of these, someone else might know a lot more about your circumstances than you do.
Who the heck would think to put a camera in a baby seat? Well, Special Services Group did. And honestly? It’s pretty clever.
The size and shape of a baby seat allow for plenty of electronics to be stored inside. According to the catalog description, it’s perfect for loading in “drop cars.” This would imply it’s used to bug cars used by criminals in sting operations or cars where an undercover discussion may occur.
Security cameras, for better or worse, are now a normal part of our daily lives. Even if they’re not expressly designed for surveillance, the cameras in nearly all of our smart devices can be exploited to this end. All it takes is just a little know-how.
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