US Investing $22M in Surveillance Clothing

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Facts

• According to a report published by The Intercept — which sites an Aug. 22 press release from the US office of the Director of National Intelligence’s Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), the agency's research and development arm — the federal government is investing $22M in clothing that 'can record audio, video, and geolocation data.'¹
• The program — called The Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems (SMART ePANTS) — 'represents the largest single investment to develop Active Smart Textiles (AST) that feel, move, and function like any garment.' Potential clothing items include socks, underwear, shirts, and pants.²
• Under the program, contracts have been awarded to five defense contractors. The value of the contracts for three of the contractors has not been disclosed.³
• The government program's press release said, 'Intelligence Community staff will be able to record information from their environment hands-free, without the need to wear uncomfortable, bulky, and rigid devices.' Their use could include 'in dangerous, high-stress environments, such as crime scenes and arms control inspections.'¹
• If successful, the clothing could be used by government entities such as the Department of Defense, and first responders at the Department of Homeland Security, among other intelligence agencies and first responders.²
• This is only the latest attempt by the US to develop cutting-edge spyware clothing, such as a 2021 project to create a programmable fiber to store, analyze, and transmit the activities of the user.³

Sources: ¹Independent, ²Business Insider and ³The times of india.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Dni. This program is simply an attempt to comfortably integrate already-known technology into the work clothes of America's defense, first responder, and intelligence agencies. The safety of the men and women on the front lines is the number one priority, which is why the US government is rolling out this innovation in wearable tech.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Intercept. With all the biometric data technology entering the commercial market today, everyone should know how powerful it can be in the hands of the US government. Imagine how much of our lives could be observed and tracked if the tech industry and intelligence agencies began implementing the same technology into our everyday products — including garments.