Bluetooth set to discoverable? Loca's watching

by Chris Ziegler posted May 29th 2007 at 8:45PM

It's no secret that Bluetooth devices that are in discoverable mode are... well, discoverable, so we figure it was just a matter of time before an independent organization set up a massive network of transceivers to track their every move. That's exactly what the "Loca" project has managed to do in a number of environments by setting up the pictured battery / phone combo underneath an unsuspecting looking cinder block shell. By pinging nearby Bluetooth-enabled phones and logging the data, Loca can do super-creepy things like send you a text that says "You were in a flower shop and spent 30 minutes in the park; are you in love?" Ultimately, Loca's goal isn't nefarious -- in fact, it's billed largely as an art project -- but the members do point out that Loca clearly demonstrates the illusion of privacy in a modern world. Folks wanting to set up a high-tech tracker of their own can pick up the "Loca Surveillance Pack," code and blueprints for the whole shebang. Scary? Not really; the phone isn't emitting any personally identifiable information -- and again, the phone has to be in discoverable mode -- but it does serve as a bit of a wakeup call.

[Via Bluetooth Source]

Filed under: Misc

Tags: bluetooth, Culture, loca, surveillance

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Dipset @ May 29th 2007 11:28PM

So how does this "brick" know the number to send the text to?

Neutral

V.I. @ May 30th 2007 1:47AM

Dipset, its called "Bluejacking"

"New nodes can be added or old nodes removed to create a surveillance swarm. As the project develops inferences based on analysis of the data (server-side) will guide communication with the Bluetooth users, via �Bluejacking� (unsolicited messages sent to Bluetooth devices), or through interaction with performers."

They couldn't do this Boston, let alone in our country, it would probably considered a "Terrorist threat" and that's damn sad!

p.s., is Cam still apart of The Movement?

Neutral

Graham @ Jul 10th 2007 1:27AM

What, you actually expect quality material around here?

Neutral

jchoi29 @ Jul 18th 2007 11:20PM

Ugh! Please.... Ban this quickly.... O_O

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.