Conspiracy Watch: Operation Couch Potato
Does the government know you're addicted to Gossip Girl?
THE CONSPIRACY: Is the government dropping $2 billion on digital television converter boxes just so we can watch American Idol in high definition? No way. The real reason for the June 12 transition from analog TV is so that the feds can secretly monitor every household in the country—and eventually the world. Hidden cameras inside converter boxes and hi-def LCD screens will allow the government and corporate America to peer into our living rooms in search of thought crimes and valuable information about our consumer preferences. And you thought the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program was bad.
THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS: Radio host and 9/11 Truther Alex Jones says digital home surveillance plans have been in the works for years. In February, someone posted a YouTube clip of a Magnavox digitial converter being taken apart, revealing a tiny camera and a microphone inside. This prompted Jones' InfoWars.com to predict "the ultimate Big Brother scenario whereby the majority of Americans and Europeans will have Orwellian telescreens watching their every move." A video on the site warns, "All the world's TV's [sic] will be able to be operated by 1 computer in 1 room."
MEANWHILE, BACK ON EARTH: The YouTuber later admitted that the video was a hoax. That hasn't stopped doubters from posting videos in which they describe the dangers of hi-tech surveillance—to the tiny cameras on top of their computer screens.
Kookiness Rating: 
(1=maybe they're on to something, 5=break out the tinfoil hat!)
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The Real Problem With the Digital TV Switchover
The fear that Joe Sixpack might miss a few episodes of CSI is misplaced.
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Digital TV's Winners and Losers
The changeover will be hardest on low-income, elderly, disabled, non-English speaking, minority, and rural populations.
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Conspiracy Watch: Obama, Hypnotist in Chief
You are getting verrry hopeful.
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Converter boxes are going to
Converter boxes are going to be used to monitor every house in America. Uh huh. How does this jibe with the fact converter boxes are NOT needed for TVs that are equipped to receive digital transmissions? The only TV owners who actually need one of these converters are people who get their signal off an antenna. That means millions and millions of houses won't have a converter box at all. So what is the government going to do about those houses? Sneak in at night and put a converter box in anyway?
Actually, it's not true that
Actually, it's not true that the only people who need a converter box are the ones who use an antenna. I've been using an antenna to watch HD digital channels on my HD TV for years. It's just the people with an old TV that doesn't have a digital tuner that need the converter box.
You don't actually need cable to watch HD digital TV.
Conspiracy
I knew it! I've been saying for years that the government was tapping into our homes. Their already monitoring your internet connection. If you don't believe this download some illegal content such as child pornography. Just wait to see who knocks on your door. As for TV's, there may not be a camera but they are monitoring what you watch. Every time you turn the channel it's recorded. No doubt there is a database on each home with indexes on what is watched. From there they can decide who has the potential to commit crimes, etc. That plain looking car in your rearview mirror, it's not your next door neighbor!
Every time you turn the channel it's recorded.
Uh huh. Now that IS paranoid. If you think they can/do and have TIME to monitor EVERY ONE on EVERY time you turn the channel, you ARE paranoid, fella!
SURE if you download CHILD porn they trace it. Like you said, it is ILLEGAL.
DUH!
Can they see my emails? Yes. Even this post.
But DO they see EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY ONE OF THEM?
Nope.
Even the government has better things to do than to read every asinine comment we make in a place like this!
They hone in on key words that are programmed to imply danger and terrorism. This has been clearly stated over and over and over.
Are they too nosy? Of course they are, but they've been TOO nosy for a LONG LONG LONG time.
This is NOTHING new.
It's just that with the Internet more people chatter about it, and get the facts wrong, and get paranoid about it.
Mind you, I'm all for privacy.
I would like very much to know that they were committed to not listening in without due process of law and a warrant, but such is not the case.
I am not justifying them, nor denying what they do.
I'm just saying it's not THAT extensive as to monitor EVERY channel that EVERYONE watches.
Sheeesh! Grow up, folks.
Loris, Goretown area, Horry County, South Carolina, USA, North American Continent, Planet Earth, Milkyway Galaxy...just in case those aliens have trouble finding me!
I agree
Yes! and yes again! I agree with 12:00PM comment. I am desperately trying to convince friends (what few I have left) and neighbors of how the government is in every aspect of our lives. Some of those around me listened. They removed themselves from the governments eye by closing checking accounts, no longer using debit cards, removing their house phones, etc. Slowly, one by one those friends disappeared. Neighbors said that some moved while others passed away. I know better! WE know better. Remove yourself from their eyes! If you must use a computer use one at the library (as I). WE ARE BEING WATCHED!
Yours in the fight!
Gida
Not so farfetched as it seems, considering.
You know, criminals don't press the little blue buttons for Onstar. The company remotely activates the cell phone mic and GPS to catch them. I have always suspected that cable boxes send back data on what you're watching, because they never ask you. You would think that would be vital marketing information for them, to know what is selling and what isn't. But they never ask, so they must already know. How hard would it be to put an Onstar-like cell hookup and/or camera into cable and htdv boxes? - not very. The TV wouldn't even have to be on for them to remotely listen in or watch, just as Onstar is supposedly off when they're tracking and listening in on stolen cars. It's not outside the realm of probability at all.
To anonymous 925
What makes you think the cell phone or camera links aren't already manufactured into the TV set? It's not like they wouldn't have thought of that. Everybody's covered that way - both people with digital TVs via the TV itself, and people without who get cable or converter boxes. The only "safe" people are people with no TVs at all (and if they have a digital radio or any computer, they're still covered, most likely). It's all activated remotely.
Break out the tinfoil hats
Break out the tinfoil hats for many of the above posters as well!!
IT'S A FACT!!
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tagged as:
- solution
Alan P.
the tinfoil hat will prevent the digital television converter boxes from reading your mind and brainwashing you.
IT'S A FACT!!
Very helpful materials for
Very helpful materials for writing a dissertation proposal and thesis proposal on similar topics.
i do not believe in this
i do not believe in this conspiracy. But you do not ever know what the government is doing. This will definitely make you think.
Or maybe they decided to
Or maybe they decided to focus on their children, you know, the ones getting weird phonecalls from all hours by various senators trying to confirm every deduction in the last ten years...tiffany jewelry
iPod to PC Transfer, iPod to
