Cyber Sentinels

One of the most important applications of information technology is in
checking the increasing incidents of crime. While the law-enforcement agencies
are making full use of tech gear to take proactive actions with the aim to avert
crimes, tech based surveillance enables them to gather information about the
untoward incidents before they happen.

Tech surveillance involves monitoring of huge volume of data that travels on
the Internet, tapping the landline as well as mobile phone and VoIP based
conversations, using high-tech surveillance cameras to track the movement of
people in sensitive areas, and biometric surveillance.

Whats Happening

The tapping of telephone lines and monitoring of Internet traffic is quite
frequent these days. For instance, in the United States, according to Wikipedia,
the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act requires that all
telephone and VoIP communications be available for real-time wiretapping by
Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. It says two leading telecom
players in the USAT&T and Verizonhave arrangement with the FBI to furnish
phone call records for use by the federal agencies. The contract amounts to $1.8
mn per year for the telecom companies.

Among the solution providers, Cisco offers its IP video surveillance for the
enterprise network infrastructure. There are five components of IP based video
surveillance solution. These are cameras, video management software, servers,
storage, and network. AT&T is offering a programming language called Hancock
that can help security agencies cull out important data from phone calls and web
traffic. The IBM Smart Surveillance Solution is designed to integrate data from
a range of monitoring devices. It uses advanced analytics to improve security at
reduced costs.

Tech Temperature: 95 (on a scale of 1 to100)

In the advanced markets of the world, security agencies can remotely activate
microphones in the cell phones of suspected elements to gain access to the
conversations. Plus, mobile phones are being tracked to know the physical
location of people. In the UK, it is said, there are over 4 mn such camerasone
camera for every fourteen persons.

Wikipedia also states that the city of Chicago, recently used a $5.1 mn
Homeland Security grant to install additional 250 surveillance cameras, and
connect them to a centralized monitoring center. This is in addition to the
existing network of over 2,000 cameras in a program called Operation Virtual
Shield. The plan is that Chicago will have a surveillance camera on every street
corner by 2016.

Monitoring India

Giving more strength to its GIS system, which will enable Delhi state
authorities to peep thirty feet deep under the land surface, the state
government has decided to install over sixty hi-definition IP surveillance
cameras across the city.

Private security segment is also gaining momentum in the Indian market.
According to the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India, the
private security business here will grow up to Rs 500 bn by 2012 from the
current Rs 220 bn. Particularly, after the terrorists attacks in Mumbai, closed
circuit television (CCTVs) and access control systems are more in demand from
hotels, airports, corporates, etc.

In 2008, the CCTV market in India was worth Rs 550 crore analog systems and
is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 20%. According to Frost & Sullivan, the
market for security and surveillance equipment in India is estimated to be at Rs
1,800 crore and the video surveillance market is at Rs 866 crore.

It is believed that over 500 mn users are attracted to the social networking
sites. This is in addition to people who use microblogging platforms like
Twitter. So, security agencies now have to monitor the information exchange on
these sites also.

Thus, IT-led surveillance market is going to gain more momentum with the
ever-increasing crime rate.

Rakesh Raman

maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in