Understanding Surveillance Technologies demystifies spy devices and describes how technology is used to observe and record intimate details of people's lives-often without their knowledge or consent. From historical origins to current applications, it explains how satellites, pinhole cameras, cell phone and credit card logs, DNA kits, tiny microphones (bugs), chemical sniffers, and implanted RF/ID chips have enabled us to create a two-edged sword-devices that promise security while, at the same time, eroding our privacy.

Understanding Surveillance Technologies is profusely illustrated with extensive references and indexes, laying the groundwork for more specialized texts on specific technologies. It covers each of the major sensing devices and explains how they are used in civilian, criminal justice, scientific, national security, and military applications. It also includes recent changes in legislation and the organization of the intelligence community, and discusses how equal access to high-tech sensing devices and encryption schemes has changed society.

Understanding Surveillance Technologies is modular, so the chapters can be read in any order, and is written in an accessible, somewhat narrative style, to suit the needs of journalists/newscasters, privacy organizations, educators, civic planners, and technology centers. It is appropriate as an adjunct reference for criminal justice/law enforcement/military, and forensic trainees, and as a textbook for courses in Surveillance Studies, Sociology, Communications, and Political Science. Now in its second edition, with 1,000 pages and more than 700 diagrams, it is still the only text that comprehensively conveys the breadth of the field.

Intended for law enforcement and military professionals, this reference describes different devices for acoustic, electromagnetic, chemical, biological, and computer surveillance. The book is modular, each chapter following the same basic format: introduction, description of devices within the category, discussion of context in which the devices are usually used, historical overview of the milestones association with the technology, description of common applications, discussion of legal and ethical implications, and further resources. The second edition corrects widespread inaccuracies. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The events of 9/11, wiretapping, and general NSA surveillance activities have increased public awareness of spy technologies. The second edition of Understanding Surveillance Technologies has been updated to reflect recent developments in aerial, radio, and telecommunications that affect government, local security, and corporations. It features new information on RFID chips, face recognition systems, Homeland Security initiatives and legislation, mass surveillance methods, voice over IP technology, higher resolution satellite images, radar imaging, and privacy issues. Additional material includes forensic methods of chemical detection of blood and fingerprints as well as DNA surveillance and portable DNA kits.