You might want to scrub serial numbers in online pix posts.

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boom boom

boom boom

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The Firearm Blog, TFB is posting a story that indicates both google and facebook are indexing serial numbers on firearms in images posted in social media. If you post such on social media or maybe using google products, you might want to blur it out. Go and buy a standalone camera instead of feeding the Googleplex if that is an issue and scrape all of the photo id metadata from it before posting.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/10/22/google-firearm-serial-numbers/

They did a simple serial number search in the google box brought up pictures of the firearm that had been posted online. For those of you active doing such, you might want to do the same for any posted pix.

Apparently both Google and Facebook are indexing images using OCR recognition software of car photos with indexing by license plates according to Jalopnik https://jalopnik.com/google-is-reading-your-license-plates-1839259494

Earlier TFB post indicating why they did not fear pictures of their serial numbers of items online. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/03/13/should-you-blur-serial-number/

Given the latest data, I would call that statement inoperative.
 
Good thing my camera is so bad no one can read the serial numbers anyway., This kind off stuff is getting more and more common now, think they need to step in and do something about this stuff.
Flipping through the channels the other day there a big problem with the Alexa thing heading people say there account numbers and passwords.

Thanks for the heads up boom boom.
 
One would have to actually know the serial number to Look it up. Even if they did, what good does it do them. They get a picture??

Ever see one of the Police Cars with 10 cameras on it driving around and collectimg any and all Tag numbers. It is going into a data base somewhere

1984 has come and gone
 
I really dont get it. You can go to a gun store and get 1000 serial numbers , but then what? If its a concern of "the man" will know what you own, i dont think its a real worry because maybe the gun is sold, maybe it was never yours, maybe its one of those boating accident things. I could see if someones putting pictures of their m60 online and the serial # is not a registered nfa item, beyond that i just dont see a problem, what am i missing?
 
jar said:
I'm not sure what the issue might be related to someone seeing the serial number of a gun in a picture.
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Obturation said:
I really dont get it. You can go to a gun store and get 1000 serial numbers , but then what? If its a concern of "the man" will know what you own, i dont think its a real worry because maybe the gun is sold, maybe it was never yours, maybe its one of those boating accident things. I could see if someones putting pictures of their m60 online and the serial # is not a registered nfa item, beyond that i just dont see a problem, what am i missing?
Click to expand...

The first thing that comes to mind is that if the gun was ever reported stolen in its perhaps long and tortured path to your doorstep, you may receive a knock on the door from ATF asking you to account for how you came to possess it. Maybe youre ok with handing over your unwittingly aquired stolen property so it can be returned to its rightful owners, but dont expect any compensation.

Indeed, someone you know could write down the serial number after seeing it online, then claim that you stole it from them.

If Beto gets his way, his goons could use this data to track you down and confiscate your AR.......
 
I used to think there was so much information out there, mine would be of minimal interest and never be mined. I have since been amazed at the information used to solve crimes and mysteries. Alexa doesn't have to tell me that everything I say can be used against me, but that doesn't mean it won't.
One of the things that opened my eyes was an account of a murder investigation in which Alexa information was requested. The death was suspicious because data available disclosed the use of copious amounts of water at 3:00 AM at the residence. If you have a Ring doorbell, info about every visitor is collected. Nest thermostats gather info on when you are home and away. Smart TVs listen in, and people still have phones and laptops in the bedroom. Many of our modern conveniences have a dark side, and knowledge is power for both good and bad. No need to panic, but be smart about what info is gathered and how it can hurt you.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
The first thing that comes to mind is that if the gun was ever reported stolen in its perhaps long and tortured path to your doorstep, you may receive a knock on the door from ATF asking you to account for how you came to possess it. Maybe youre ok with handing over your unwittingly aquired stolen property so it can be returned to its rightful owners, but dont expect any compensation.

Indeed, someone you know could write down the serial number after seeing it online, then claim that you stole it from them.

If Beto gets his way, his goons could use this data to track you down and confiscate your AR.......
Click to expand...

A lot of firearms sales go through dealers and then there is a record of ATF 4473 forms. For private sales, a bill of sale is a good way to prove from whom the gun was bought. That is why a bill of sale is good to have - and not just for firearms.
 
rust collector said:
... If you have a Ring doorbell, info about every visitor is collected. Nest thermostats gather info on when you are home and away. Smart TVs listen in, and people still have phones and laptops in the bedroom. Many of our modern conveniences have a dark side, and knowledge is power for both good and bad. No need to panic, but be smart about what info is gathered and how it can hurt you.
Click to expand...

That is why the camera and microphone should be covered when not in use. I know at least one federal agent who does that, too.
 
Time to beak out the........ 71GV79NPpZL._UX425_.jpg

One should probably not post any pictures of guns on the internet, serial numbers exposed or not. I'd suggest not even post anything on a gun forum, much less be an active member since your IP address is available to anyone with a computer and they can trace it back to your house. The mere mention that you have a gun or reloading equipment on the internet alone is more than enough to draw "the man" and droves of gun thieves to your front door.


boris-wide-eyed_2364012b.jpg
 
buck460XVR said:
Time to beak out the........View attachment 867358

One should probably not post any pictures of guns on the internet, serial numbers exposed or not. I'd suggest not even post anything on a gun forum, much less be an active member since your IP address is available to anyone with a computer and they can trace it back to your house. The mere mention that you have a gun or reloading equipment on the internet alone is more than enough to draw "the man" and droves of gun thieves to your front door.


View attachment 867359
Click to expand...

I will be at your door in a few minutes!:)
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
The first thing that comes to mind is that if the gun was ever reported stolen in its perhaps long and tortured path to your doorstep, you may receive a knock on the door from ATF asking you to account for how you came to possess it. Maybe youre ok with handing over your unwittingly aquired stolen property so it can be returned to its rightful owners, but dont expect any compensation.

Indeed, someone you know could write down the serial number after seeing it online, then claim that you stole it from them.

If Beto gets his way, his goons could use this data to track you down and confiscate your AR.......
Click to expand...

Well, none of those issues bother me. I still see little or no risk in posting serial numbers.
 
If there is guilt by association, we are all doomed. ;)

Sorry to go off the rails, but the OP's takeaway is to be thoughtful about whatever you post because it's available to everyone forever. If that's OK with you, I have no beef.

I am indeed fortunate that most of my youthful pecadillos took place before the information age.
 
rust collector said:
If there is guilt by association, we are all doomed. ;)

Sorry to go off the rails, but the OP's takeaway is to be thoughtful about whatever you post because it's available to everyone forever. If that's OK with you, I have no beef.

I am indeed fortunate that most of my youthful pecadillos took place before the information age.
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And I'm at the age where peccadilloes are simply winsome fantasies.
 
It has always been a bad idea to post photos with visible serial numbers. Best thing is to cover them before taking a photo, but next best is to edit the number out before ever uploading.

Meeks36 said:
Reminds me I need to put some black tape over the lens on my phone.
Click to expand...

And rip the microphones out of anything you don't want listening in.

It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you. I can't understand why people are so willing to invite this spy tech into their homes with all the amazon automation and whatnot. Yes, you really have to have a mobile phone and other technologies if you want to be a part of society these days, but that doesn't mean you have tolerate the invasion of privacy.

I have the front facing camera on my mobile disabled, as is the one on my desktop. I literally ripped the microphone out of the desktop, as well as all the kid's tablets, the Fire TV remote and anything else that has internet connectivity except for the phones which obviously need them to function as phones. Just have to be mindful of the fact that they are listening

I don't do this because I have anything to hide, just don't like being spied on, data being compiled on me & my family for any reason without my express permission.
 
Jar,
How about red flag laws--would you want your worst enemy to know exactly what sort of firearm including the serial number you have? One of the keys to a good lie is to have a grain of truth in it such as an exact description of the gun that you "threatened" them with. Then how do you prove your innocence.

There are private investigators buying access to data from Google/Facebook that could be used for employment denials or firing during background checks (potential work place shooter as they have a gun). Use of the information in inheritance and divorce cases? Being banned from social media (social media companies sometimes cooperate in cross bannings because they share information all the time) for being anti-social is another possibility when companies like Paypal can even fire you as a customer or a seller for using their financial services to buy/sell something they do not like.

Targeting for harassment such as when lists of CCW holders were published is another reason. It could be used to determine whether you violate state laws on things like magazine size, storage, firearm alterations which given the legal uncertainties such as the "no feature" versus grandfathered in some states is a problem as the laws keep changing.

Any data that government wants from a third party such as Google, etc. can be obtained by a simple request or subpoena if the company is feeling onry. You have no rights to reject at that point. In addition, they can pretty much sell your data to anyone and do so that a very detailed profile can be developed.

The answer is while you might not care now, the internet is forever, and you might have reason to care in the future.
 
rust collector said:
Sorry to go off the rails, but the OP's takeaway is to be thoughtful about whatever you post because it's available to everyone forever. If that's OK with you, I have no beef.
.
Click to expand...

Oh, I whole heartily agree. Kinda the point of my post. Blurring the serial numbers out on your gun is not going to help come TEOTWAWKI. The Storm Troopers are still going to come to your door looking for your guns. They are still going to shoot your children in the head in front of you till you give up your guns. Your neighbors will give you up, so their kids aren't shot it the head. You mother will give you up, so you aren't shot in the head. Those tin-foil hats are not bullet proof.

As for the unwittingly buying a stolen gun and have it given back to the rightful owner. If you are making gun deals with those type of folks, you know the risk of it being stolen. Buy a gun FTF from anyone you don't know and don't know the history of said gun and you are assuming the same risk.
 
Is it the media creating all this paranoia or is it a natural human trait. My address is public, my phone number is public, the state and feds have my picture on drivers license and passports. I’m not overly worried that the serial number of a fire arm is visible in a photo on a forum. All my firearms are all legal and the number are recorded somewhere any way.
 
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