In this video above, Raytheon’s “principal investigator” Brian Urch explains how their Rapid Information Overlay Technology (RIOT) software uses photographs uploaded to social networks and data logged by networks like Foursquare, Facebook and Twitter to determine the exact, real time location of an individual. These images sometimes contain latitude and longitude details – automatically embedded by smartphones within so-called “exif header data” – which is, interestingly, the same data that allerted international authorities to John McAffee’s location while he was on the run in Guatamala.

Riot pulls the data, analysing not only the photographs posted by individuals, but also the location where these images were taken. The software then presents the data to the investigator in a visually rich format, making it super easy to find Wally. Historical data is also available, meaning that an effective data analyst can accurately predict the movements of a tracked individual.

Feel free to feel terrified, now.

[Source : Guardian]