Local News

City Admits To Using Surveillance Software At Boston Calling Music Festival

Music fans reacting to the music of Twenty-One Pilots as they perform at the Boston Calling Music Festival at City Hall Plaza on Sunday September 7, 2014. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) Topic: 09Bostoncalling Reporter: Sarah Rodman MATTHEW J. LEE/THE BOSTON GLOBE

At the 2013 Boston Calling music festivals, the city spent $650,000 to test a surveillance software, according to The Boston Globe but the software was not used at this past weekend’s event.

This test software, according to The Globe, “can be used for many purposes, including everything from alerting police to abandoned bags to sorting people by height or skin color.’’

The Globe reported:

“Situational awareness software analyzes video and provides alerts when something happens. For example, if someone walks into a secure area in view of one of the system’s cameras, the software would raise a red flag. More sophisticated systems can track people in real time as they move through crowds — such as following an unauthorized person in the area — without requiring dozens or even hundreds of human analysts to watch video feeds.’’

Read the rest of The Globe story here.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com