WikiLeaks release suggests US using surveillance software

US government is secretly spying on EVERYONE using civilian security cameras,say WikiLeaks, read a headline on Monday at the website Mail Online. PC Magazine described TrapWire as a secret,comprehensive US surveillance effort. Though TrapWire Inc.,the Virginia company that sells the software,would not comment on Monday,the reports appear to be wildly exaggerated.

TrapWire was tried out on 15 surveillance cameras in Washington and Seattle by the Homeland Security Department,but officials said the trial ended last year because it wasnt promising.

A claim in the leaked e-mails that 500 cameras in the New York subway were linked to TrapWire is false,said Paul J. Browne,NYPDs chief spokesman. TrapWire is discussed in dozens of e-mails from Stratfor Global Intelligence,a private security firm in Texas.

Assange asylum to be decided soon

QUITO: Ecuador is likely to announce a decision on whether to grant political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange before the end of the week,President Rafael Correa said on Tuesday. Reuters