US authorities to track suspects using games consoles

Big Brother is watching. Specifically, he’s watching what you’re doing on your consoles.

Gamasutra reports that the US Navy and the Department of Homeland Security have employed the services of forensics company Obscure Technologies to discover a way to track data exchanged through modern console networks.

The aim is to discover a method to monitor network activity and extract disk images, flash memory dumps, and configuration settings, all of which could help investigators gather evidence on suspected criminals”.

In theory this could allow for the tracking of suspected criminals in much the same way as authorities currently monitor emails and telephone use.

The targets are as you would expect – terrorists and paedophiles. Allegations that such groups are active on home consoles are widespread. However, it’s likely that the authorities will have to conjure a way to sidestep privacy laws if they are to employ a reliable method.

Previous reporting on the subject has been drowned out by the ill-informed ramblings of the nationals. But there is a serious issue here.

In an age where so much of our digital footprint is so closely monitored, the ability to chat and share text over consoles could potentially afford wrongdoers the chance to chat is relative privacy.

Although not for long, by the looks of it.