Could airlines spy on us through in-flight entertainment systems?

[cambriamarsh]

Article from NZ Herald
Could airlines spy on us through in-flight entertainment systems?
Does anyone know if these systems are used by any airline or government? /(tin foil hat)/

 

[serfty]

Well, if Zuckerburg tapes over his camera ...

 

[RooFlyer]

This was covered by OMAAT recently. Airlines categorically said not connected.



Suspect it's a 'factory' standard which would cost the airline to change, like the unused entertainment boxes discussed in another thread recently.

 

[dajop]

Not through IFE, but I’m pretty sure on my last Chinese domestic flight that they made an announcement there is surveillance of th cabin for security purposes. And even if there isn’t yet, I am sure there soon will be, linked to the Orwellian facial recognition/social credit scheme being set up by the government.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Not through IFE, but I’m pretty sure on my last Chinese domestic flight that they made an announcement there is surveillance of th cabin for security purposes. And even if there isn’t yet, I am sure there soon will be, linked to the Orwellian facial recognition/social credit scheme being set up by the government.

Have to agree unfortunately. Another reason not to go to China?

 

[Hvr]

Well they know what we watch so that is a form of data collection.

 

[kpc]

But why would the airlines want to spy on us?

 

[serfty]

But why would the airlines want to spy on us?

Spy? it's not that they want to "Spy", it's data gathering to build revenue opportunity.

e.g. (Aside from sitting in a seat your were not allocated) They could grab an image of the PAX using the seat and match it with other images taken of the same PAX when on other flights. If they don't match this may be a case of FF membership sharing.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Spy? it's not that they want to "Spy", it's data gathering to build revenue opportunity.

e.g. (Aside from sitting in a seat your were not allocated) They could grab an image of the PAX using the seat and match it with other images taken of the same PAX when on other flights. If they don't match this may be a case of FF membership sharing.

Also getting data on sleep / wake, who knows? Trippin the Rift or another airline big data expert to the white phone please!

 

[Denali]

Why the expectation they are spying? Maybe its for seat chat (although that would be annoying for those around you).

Good luck for anyone wanting to spy on me - Im boring as heck to watch.

 

[moa999]

Has it been confirmed it's a camera.
Could just be a light sensor for auto controlling brightness and contrast.

 

[perthjay85]

Has it been confirmed it's a camera.
Could just be a light sensor for auto controlling brightness and contrast.

as @RooFlyer pointed out earlier it is redundant.
Singapore airlines have said that it is a camera but not enabled. It was already apart of the entertainment units from the supplier.

Passenger spots camera on plane’s in-flight entertainment screen

 

[Happy Trails]

EK aircraft have multiple video cameras installed but, AIUI, they are used only for live cabin monitoring and do not record.

 

[JohnK]

Number plate recognition in a lot of car parks. Voice recognition offered by quite a few businesses.

Face recognition with a name against the face would just about top it off. They'd know your exact movements at any given point in time if they don't already know.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Also getting data on sleep / wake, who knows? Trippin the Rift or another airline big data expert to the white phone please!

It was probably originally sold to airlines as a video chat option.

However, perhaps it could be used for:
- See how much attention you pay to advertisements/prerolls
- How you emotionally react to certain shows/movies
- Auto turn off IFE when you fall asleep
- Reptilian mind control through special frequencies emitted from the 'camera'
- Photos for governments on arrival (?!)

I'm firmly in the sticker club on my devices...

 

[dajop]

Face recognition with a name against the face would just about top it off. They'd know your exact movements at any given point in time if they don't already know.

Take a look here and here if you want to learn more about the place that is furthest down this path.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Face recognition with a name against the face would just about top it off. They'd know your exact movements at any given point in time if they don't already know.

Airlines (loyalty programs) can already track where you go. Many can tell when you're flying with a competing airline, too.

Then there's Google: Sign in - Google Accounts

Privacy is long gone!

 

[theblank]

Spying on passengers doing what? looking out the window when not supposed too.
I would be more worried (and thats not much) about the person sitting next or behind me.

or moreso the bloke I saw on a recent flight that accidentally opened his cough collection folder, conveniently with large thumbnails. He should be worrried

 

[Nerdnotgeek]

Airlines might be cross referencing people wearing headphones against people attached to headphone outputs. All those of you with headphones on just so that nobody talks to you have been rumbled !

 

[Denali]

Maybe sending messages via the heaphones. 'Pick the fish, we have no more chicken, pick the fish!'