I posted a deal about this awhile back, and it is cool to finally get some statistics about the program. I thought it was an awesome idea back then, and I still think it is good idea and deserves further study and use.
Now some of you are probably wondering why this isn’t under law enforcement or technology? I put it under PMC 2.0 because I think the lessons learned with this virtual border watch program, could easily be applied to other countries and border security contracts. Especially countries where border control is a matter of life and death, where terrorists are looking to import their hate.
Look at the Afghanistan and Pakistan border, or the Iraq borders, or the Saudi Arabia and Yemen border? Crowd sourcing a border watch program could very well be the trend of future border security operations. It also involves that Grandma in Michigan, if in fact she wanted to make a difference in the war effort or with border enforcement here in the US. It is like a modern day version of the coastal lookouts that civilians participated in back during World War Two.
By the way, these guys should turn this into a mobile application for smart phones, and make this something people can do while waiting in the doctor’s office before an appointment. That would really increase the numbers if you know what I mean.-Matt
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Armchair deputies patrol US border
December 26, 2009
By Claire Prentice
When John Spears gets home from his sales job in New York, he sits down at his computer with a bottle of beer and starts patrolling the US border.
And to do it, he does not need to stir from his sofa.
He is one of tens of thousands of people around the world who are volunteering to patrol the 1250-mile long (2000 km) stretch between Texas and Mexico via the web.
The controversial $4m (£2.5m) Texas Virtual Border Watch Programme invites civilians to log on to Blueservo.net.
There they can monitor live feeds 24/7 from 21 hidden surveillance cameras placed at intervals along the border.
Supporters see the initiative as a step forward in US efforts to curb illegal immigration, drug smuggling and border violence.
Critics say it is encouraging vigilantism and stoking anti-immigrant feeling.
Value for money?