NYC 'Artist' visited by Secret Service - International Business Times

Jul 09, 2011 06:09 PM EDT

A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service this week.

Kyle McDonald used the built-in cameras on Macbooks and other Apple products to capture images of about 1,000 people as they examined new Apple computers.

His computers, iPod and digital storage devices  were confiscated as authorities conduct their investigation.

"@secretservice just stopped by to investigate peoplestaringatcomputers.tumblr.com and took my laptop. please assume they're reading any emails you send me," McDonald said via Twitter Thursday.

Over the course of three days, McDonald installed his homegrown software, which captured photos every minute and sent them to his server.

 Reports said that McDonald did this across computers at nearly 100 stores. He said he had the permission of Apple security guards.

In early July, he arranged an unauthorized exhibition at two Apple stores where customers were first shown a picture of themselves and then photos of other Apple store visitors.

"We have this expression on our face [when we use computers] that basically says that we're not interacting with anybody, we're interacting with the machine," McDonald said of the project.

"Even if there are a lot of people in the room at the Apple store, you're not interacting with them. If something weird happens, you don't say, 'Hey, did you see that?'"

Regarding the case itself, McDonald, said that he had been advised not to comment on the case by the online freedom group the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

See a sampling of the photos below, or click here for a slideshow of all the works

A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr A New York City "artist," who installed spyware onto public computers to snap photos of customers in Apple stores was visited by US Secret Service on week.

Source: Tumblr

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Secret agents raid Apple store webcam 'artist' - BBC News

8 July 2011 Last updated at 14:54 GMT

  The US Secret Service has raided the home of an artist who collected images from webcams in a New York Apple store.

Kyle McDonald is said to have installed software that photographed people looking at laptops then uploaded the pictures to a website.

Mr McDonald said he had obtained permission from a security guard to take photos inside the store.

Apple declined to comment. However, the Secret Service confirmed that its electronic crime division was involved.

A spokesperson told the BBC that the investigation was taking place under US Code Title 18 /1030 which relates to "Fraud and related activity in connection with computers."

Offences covered by the legislation carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Writing on Twitter, Mr McDonald said: "@secretservice just stopped by to investigate [web address removed] and took my laptop. Please assume they're reading any e-mails you send me."

No arrests had been made in the case as of 8 July.

Staring

Kyle McDonald's images were uploaded to a page on the blogging site Tumblr.

In the description of People Staring at Computers, the project is described as: "A photographic intervention. Custom app installed around NYC, taking a picture every minute and uploading it if a face is found in the image.

"Exhibited on site with a remotely triggered app that displayed the photos full screen on every available computer."

The site features a video and series of photographs, apparently showing shoppers trying-out computers.

Comments on the individuals by visitors to the site are also attached to the images.

Mr McDonald, writing on Twitter, said that he had been advised not to comment on the case by the online freedom group the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

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