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11/07/2005 Archived Entry: "Introducing the TaserCam"

A RARE ITEM THAT BOTH POLICE AND THEIR CRITICS SHOULD WELCOME: The Taser cam.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Public outrage was immediate after police in Miami used a Taser to shock a 6-year-old last year in an elementary school office.

Police said the Taser was used because the boy, a special needs student, had cut himself twice with a shard of glass and threatened to slash himself again or any approaching officer.

"When you first hear the story, you think, `Oh my gosh, cops Tased a 6-year-old,'" said Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Nelda Fonticella. "But you've got to take a look at the entire situation to realize why it was done."

I'm sure the cam will be helpful (and soon critical) device. But I still think there's something wrong with an adult who has to resort to electric shocks to deal with the behavior of a child.

(Above item found by Katherine of CASPIAN, who is proving pretty hard for authoritarians to handle, herself. Her book Spychips, co-authored with Liz McIntire, has not only prompted an RFID industry spokesperson to issue a rebuttal, but to attempt to co-opt her by inviting her and Liz to be on the advisory board of RFID, Inc. And here's what's funny. Privacy maven Richard. M. Smith checked out the online version of the article announcing the rebuttal document. The article contains a web bug -- a tracking device.)

Posted by Claire @ 11:44 AM CST
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