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Choleric · 08-18-2008, 09:51 AM

BEIJING -- Tens of thousands of taxi drivers in Beijing have a tool that could become part of China's all-out security campaign for the Olympic Games. Their vehicles have microphones -- installed ostensibly for driver safety -- that can be used to listen to passengers remotely.

The tiny listening devices, which are connected to a global positioning system able to track a cab's location by satellite, have been installed in almost all of the city's 70,000 taxis over the past three years, taxi drivers and industry officials say.

As with digital cameras used in cities such as London, Sydney or New York, the stated purpose of the microphones is to protect the driver. But whereas the devices in other countries can only record images, those devices in Beijing taxis can be remotely activated without the driver's knowledge to eavesdrop on passengers, according to drivers and Yaxon Networks Co., a Chinese company that makes some of the systems used in Beijing. The machines can even remotely shut off engines.

Whether these microphones are used to spy on riders is unclear. Asked if police could listen in on conversations in taxis, a Beijing police official declined to comment, saying that such matters were "confidential" and that they were "not supposed to release such details to the public."

China has launched a massive operation to protect the Games. Monday's deadly attack in Xinjiang on a police station underscored Beijing's worries that terrorists will attack the Olympics. The government says it has deployed about 110,000 police, troops and volunteers in Beijing to ensure security.

But Chinese authorities are also determined to thwart protesters or human-rights activists who might try to embarrass the government. Taxi drivers have been told to watch for suspicious behavior and odd packages. Security experts say there is little likelihood that all conversations in taxis are monitored. But the presence of microphones in a place most would consider private is a reminder that there are many ways for Chinese authorities to monitor people.

A small microphone inside a Beijing taxi, circled at left, and a GPS system allow authorities to know taxis' locations and eavesdrop.

Beijing Taxis Are Rigged for Eavesdropping - WSJ.com

Shift507 · 08-18-2008, 10:05 AM

Gold for Panama in the long jump

Irving Saladino. I'm from the same province as him

Rob · 08-19-2008, 02:21 AM

He he, microphones in taxis ...it must have been a slow news day

BMW_Owner · 08-19-2008, 05:32 AM

Haven't had the chance to watch much except for sporadic bits here and there. Seems to be a much larger success then the Greece Olympics. The technology used in the opening ceremony was incredible.

Monster · 08-19-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW_Owner

Haven't had the chance to watch much except for sporadic bits here and there. Seems to be a much larger success then the Greece Olympics. The technology used in the opening ceremony was incredible.

Yeap the opening ceremony was amazing, but even with years of preparation, the blue screen of death did strike again. The Aussies are doing ok, the women swimmers are pretty good, the male swimmers aren't great, but Grant Hackett did his best though.

Mikael · 08-20-2008, 07:03 AM

I saw this on CNN when they interviewed the journalist:

Rob · 08-20-2008, 10:28 AM

Usain Bolt --

Respect

Rob · 08-23-2008, 01:14 PM

A costly kick to the head

PHOTO: Angel Valodia Matos of Cuba kicks out at referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden during the men’s +80kg bronze medal taekwondo competition against Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.

Cuba’s Angel Valodia Matos was banned for life from taekwondo on Saturday after he kicked the match referee in the head in his bronze medal bout.

Matos’s coach was also banned for the behaviour that the official said was in “strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games”.

That would be putting it mildly, one might say.

REUTERS/Issei Kato

View from the Bird’s Nest Blog Archive A costly kick to the head | Blogs | Reuters.com

Alfie · 08-23-2008, 01:38 PM

I don't know Teakwondo or if the ref's call was correct. But these olympics have been filled with wierd calls all over the place.

The Artist · 08-23-2008, 01:51 PM

haha wow.. that cuban is nutts..

08-18-2008, 09:51 AM	#21
Choleric Justice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Great Plains Posts: 2,513 Thanks: 236 Thanked 569 Times in 292 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread BEIJING -- Tens of thousands of taxi drivers in Beijing have a tool that could become part of China's all-out security campaign for the Olympic Games. Their vehicles have microphones -- installed ostensibly for driver safety -- that can be used to listen to passengers remotely. The tiny listening devices, which are connected to a global positioning system able to track a cab's location by satellite, have been installed in almost all of the city's 70,000 taxis over the past three years, taxi drivers and industry officials say. As with digital cameras used in cities such as London, Sydney or New York, the stated purpose of the microphones is to protect the driver. But whereas the devices in other countries can only record images, those devices in Beijing taxis can be remotely activated without the driver's knowledge to eavesdrop on passengers, according to drivers and Yaxon Networks Co., a Chinese company that makes some of the systems used in Beijing. The machines can even remotely shut off engines. Whether these microphones are used to spy on riders is unclear. Asked if police could listen in on conversations in taxis, a Beijing police official declined to comment, saying that such matters were "confidential" and that they were "not supposed to release such details to the public." China has launched a massive operation to protect the Games. Monday's deadly attack in Xinjiang on a police station underscored Beijing's worries that terrorists will attack the Olympics. The government says it has deployed about 110,000 police, troops and volunteers in Beijing to ensure security. But Chinese authorities are also determined to thwart protesters or human-rights activists who might try to embarrass the government. Taxi drivers have been told to watch for suspicious behavior and odd packages. Security experts say there is little likelihood that all conversations in taxis are monitored. But the presence of microphones in a place most would consider private is a reminder that there are many ways for Chinese authorities to monitor people. A small microphone inside a Beijing taxi, circled at left, and a GPS system allow authorities to know taxis' locations and eavesdrop. Beijing Taxis Are Rigged for Eavesdropping - WSJ.com

08-18-2008, 10:05 AM	#22
Shift507 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Panama Posts: 64 Thanks: 185 Thanked 156 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread Gold for Panama in the long jump Irving Saladino. I'm from the same province as him

08-19-2008, 02:21 AM	#23
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread He he, microphones in taxis ...it must have been a slow news day

08-19-2008, 05:32 AM	#24
BMW_Owner Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 180 Thanks: 36 Thanked 71 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread Haven't had the chance to watch much except for sporadic bits here and there. Seems to be a much larger success then the Greece Olympics. The technology used in the opening ceremony was incredible.

08-20-2008, 07:03 AM	#26
Mikael Fanatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,836 Thanks: 828 Thanked 415 Times in 233 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread I saw this on CNN when they interviewed the journalist:

08-20-2008, 10:28 AM	#27
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread Usain Bolt -- Respect

08-23-2008, 01:14 PM	#28
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread A costly kick to the head PHOTO: Angel Valodia Matos of Cuba kicks out at referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden during the men’s +80kg bronze medal taekwondo competition against Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. Cuba’s Angel Valodia Matos was banned for life from taekwondo on Saturday after he kicked the match referee in the head in his bronze medal bout. Matos’s coach was also banned for the behaviour that the official said was in “strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games”. That would be putting it mildly, one might say. REUTERS/Issei Kato View from the Bird’s Nest Blog Archive A costly kick to the head \| Blogs \| Reuters.com

08-23-2008, 01:38 PM	#29
Alfie Devotee Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: La Svezia! Posts: 3,394 Thanks: 364 Thanked 395 Times in 258 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread I don't know Teakwondo or if the ref's call was correct. But these olympics have been filled with wierd calls all over the place.

08-23-2008, 01:51 PM	#30
The Artist Shaolin Shadow Boxer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Gothenburg Posts: 9,171 Thanks: 41 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Re: Beijing Olympics 08 Thread haha wow.. that cuban is nutts..

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