An anti-drone scarf helps the owner avoid thermal imaging. (all images courtesy New Museum)
For a limited time, the New Museum Store will be hosting a very of-the-moment Privacy Gift Shop, which will feature “stealth wear” clothing and accessories that will help you dodge — or at least make you hope you are — surveillance methods.
The “OFF Pocket” phone case blocks 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and other signals in case you have to cloak your phone data.
The product line, designed by artist Adam Harvey and fashion designer Johanna Bloomfield, includes the Anti-Drone Scarf (it looks like a hijab and protects against thermal imaging surveillance), the OFF Pocket Phone Case (blocks wireless signals), the Metal Dollar Bill (shields RFID units in your wallet from would-be identity thieves), and the least-subversive of the lot, the IXNY Tee, which is a redesign of the iconic “I Love NY” T-shirt featuring OCR-resistant font that cannot be deciphered by the NSA.
Have an anxiety about something in your life? Be assured that someone will find a way to sell you something to assuage that fear.
If the Privacy Gift Shop ever wants to expand their selection, I hope they consider artist Evan Roth’s “TSA Communication” backpack plates in their selection, which certainly are a conversation starter with any TSA airport security official. Oh, and good luck going through airport security with any of these security hacks.
The Metal Dollar Bill blocks RFID signals.
“I Love NY” T-shirt with OCR-resistant font.
The Privacy Gift Shop opens at the New Museum (235 Bowery, Lower East Side, Manhattan) on Wednesday, August 28 and continues until Sunday, September 22.
Sadly, any attempt at privacy anymore marks you as a suspect to intelligence agencies and law enforcement.
Cute little gesture, but that’s all it is. Y’see, those drones are piloted by human beings, and all they would do is wonder “Gee, what’s that human-sized blob wandering around that just looks too low-temperature vs. the surroundings? Must be someone trying to hide from my drone. BOOM!”