Web Game Rewards Voyeurs for Monitoring Real Security Cameras
In what he says is an effort to combat petty crime, a British businessman is asking wannabe spies to take part in a revolutionary Internet game. Next month, Tony Morgan will launch the crime-fighting service Internet Eyes, which will allow regular citizens to watch for criminal activity through closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) installed in businesses around town. According to The Daily Mail, if someone spots something questionable, he or she will simply click a button on the Web site, alerting the business owner via text message. Then, the owner will be able to decide whether or not there's enough evidence to report the activity. Players are awarded points for correctly identifying a crime and deducted points for incorrectly reporting one. At the end of the month, the player with the most points will receive a cash prize. It's free to
Although we'd think criminals would be shaking in their boots, some critics warn that such a service will only create paranoia and allow voyeurs to get their kicks. "It will not only encourage a dangerous spying mentality by turning crime into a game but also could lead to dangerous civil rights abuses," says Charles Farrier, director of the No-CCTV pressure group.
Last we checked, there were people called police that performed such a service for us. Let's allow the boys in blue to do their job, rather than some would-be Batman with a laptop. [From: The Daily Mail]
Death of Print
Elle Girl
In April 2006, Elle Girl's print edition was closed down, but the Web site lives on at ellegirl.com.
CosmoGirl
Though it will be folded into Seventeen magazine, the teen version of Cosmopolitan will publish its last print issue in December 2008. It will live on at CosmoGirl.com.
Christian Science Monitor
Founded in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, this venerable paper will move all its daily content to the Web starting in 2009, though it will still publish a weekly print version.
Radar Magazine
Was it too snarky for its own good? We'll never know, but this modern-day successor to '80s-era Spy magazine shut down in October. AMI, owner of the National Enquirer, bought RadarOnline.com, however, which will focus on celebrity gossip a la TMZ.com.
US News and World Report
Once a serious competitor to Time and Newsweek, US News and World Report is now best known for its College guides, which it will continue to publish. The weekly newsmagazine, however, will be turned into a monthly, and all daily operations are moving to the Web at usnews.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ethan said 2:53PM on 10-06-2009
It's like a spam conversation over here!
Being a security guard always sounded to me like the most boring job. Doing it for fun/a small chanch at a cash prize? I'll pass.
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mpossible009 said 11:50PM on 10-24-2009
this would actually be pretty fun...u have no idea the adrenaline rush u get when u spot someone tearing open a package or concealing unpaid for merchandise. This will be a great service to businesses who participate because employee theft far surpasses civilian theft. forget about making people paranoid because even when our elaborate camera system was shown to employees to assure them they were being watched, they were still desperate (stupid) enough to think they wouldn't be caught. sign me up, this will be much more fun than watching CSI.
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