Ricardo Dominguez is a co-founder of The Electronic Disturbance Theater (EDT), a small group of cyber activists and artists engaged in developing the theory and practice of Electronic Civil Disobedience (ECD).
The EDT has mainly focused its electronic actions against the Mexican and U.S. governments to draw attention to the war being waged against the Zapatistas and others in Mexico.
Their latest project is the development of the Transborder Immigrant Tool, a GPS device based on a cheap cell phone that will help Mexican immigrants safely cross the border.
According to an interview with VICE, Dominguez explains that the primary goal of the Transborder Immigrant Tool is to increase safety during border crossing by directing heavy-footed immigrants to safe routes, shelter, food, water, and friendly sympathizers.
Based on the Virtual Hiker Tool, Dominguez and his research lab BANG (Bits, Atoms, Neurons, and Genes) took the GPS enabled Motorola i455 phone, which is under $30, available even cheaper on eBay, and cracked it to create a simple compass-like navigation system.
“We were also able to add other information, like where to find water left by the Border Angels, where to find Quaker help centers that will wrap your feet, how far you are from the highway—things to make the application really benefit individuals who are crossing the border.” Dominguez explains.
Dominguez isn’t too concerned about the border authorities impression of the tool either.
“I would imagine they won’t be too happy with us, but again we’re not trying to hide. It’s a safety tool….They’re well aware of who we are and what we do. Once they get full knowledge of the Transborder Immigrant Tool—and we’re very transparent about it—I’m sure they’ll be quite critical.” he says.
This should be consider illegal and u should not be promoting illegal activities. This person should be arrested. He is taking away services and jobs from real americans.
@g — I’m glad to know that “real Americans” are well-educated and can speak proper English. HA!
What should be illegal (and in fact is under international law) is the cowardly and terroristic use of remote technologies to direct attacks with unmanned drones resulting in civilian deaths on repeated occasions. This is a practice of the United States of America. In addition, the U.S. should be taken before international tribunals for a number of practices at home and abroad which violate laws related to labor, immigration, trade, human rights, and war. The people of the U.S. are largely non-players in their own lives and the actions of our government. It is increasingly up to the peoples of the world to stand up against us and defy us. In fact, it is clear that is going on increasingly and all over the globe. It is high time.
G,
So it’s illegal immigrants’ fault that our unemployment levels are at 10% nation-wide? Explain please…
…seems to me that a lot of folks fail to realize that “Mexicans” are “Americans” also…I’m not condoning what Mr.Dominguez is doing in any way shape or form…and believe that if you want to live and work in the “United States” that you should apply for a visa and come on in…we are a Country founded by people who were persecuted in their homelands and should understand that that’s what has made us attractive to those that still live in those conditions…yet we have become a Nation of Prejudice and dare to look down on those who are less fortunate and are simply trying to make their lives better…I agree that “real Americans” fail to grasp the concept that they need to be active in how our government is run and if you think something is unjust, stand up, speak up, then get out and vote for it…instead of blaming people for helping those less fortunate, remember where we all come from…remember slavery, remember the holocaust, remember the persecution of Europeans simply because of their religious beliefs…the “pilgrims” came to this land and didn’t ask permission to be here…they settled in a land that was already populated with several different nations and opened the door for others like them to come here and declare war on these nations and seize their lands…this is how our “Great Nation” was founded…not from declaring independence from England, but by doing what most of us would consider to be terrorism…and for you Bible Thumpers, I believe it goes “Ye who be without sin, cast the first stone”…so get a with it people…and put something good in the peace pipe to smoke with your neighbors… ;)…lol…
Are you people kidding?
David Brookbank –
Wow.. a true product of today’s liberal infestation. Your sense of patriotism includes a form of “revolution” when I read between the lines. Your vague claims that the US is acting out in a “terrorist fashion” is complete bogus hogwash. This is war, casualties will happen and it sucks. To defend the US’s notion of “cowardly and terroristic use of remote technologies” is anti-American in your view, because you failed to see past the propaganda spewed out by liberal and the ever-so “correct” Pakistani news media sources. Pakistan is happy that we’re hitting Taliban warlords, but pissed that we’re killing their civilians. We’re welcomed, unofficially but chastised officially. We’re doing what we do because no one has the technology nor the balls to do it. The more terrorists we kill, the better chance Pakistan has against its own terrorists that kill at least 10 people per car bomb per day, sometimes killing more than 25 or as much as 40 or more..
Read here for more terrorist bomb attacks:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Category:Pakistan
Our drone attacks are, in the grand scheme of things, helping Pakistan more than it could help itself.
People like you cannot fathom the concept of collateral damage in war (in this case unintended casualties, NOT intended). It’s unacceptable but in reality, it’s a fact of life. Get over yourself and go ask for a refund for your education.
Serena –
NO NO NO NO!!!!
-Mexicans are NOT US Citizens.
-Canadians are NOT US Citizens.
-This is NOT a global economy
-This is NOT a global state
-This is NOT the “Union of North America” (much like the EU, gag me)
-THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WE HAVE LAWS. WE ARE A SOVEREIGN NATION. I DON’T WANT A UNIFIED NORTH AMERICA because THAT is SOCIALISM.
You know that bumper sticker that says “One people, one planet”? What I just said above is the truth behind the BS on that bumper sticker and it aggravates the hell out of me to see people succumb to such stomach-churning ideas. Stuff like that is going to be the death of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. You’re spitting on the graves of the fallen of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI, WII and more.
Mexico wants no border because it just cannot compete in a global market with the USA. We are too big for them and they’re pissed and sad. So what do they do? The Mexican government PROMOTES the illegal crossings of their citizens into OUR country.
You are right about one thing. America IS a melting pot, but there is a line to be drawn. The bottom line is this hack is promoting the illegal crossing into our borders even if what this guy says is about his intentions are true, which I DO have to question because of his ethnic background.
Bottom line is: illegal immigration is just that. ILLEGAL. Come into our country LEGALLY and I will welcome you.
/end of rant
Happy (late) Thanksgiving!
No, actually, “illegal immigration is not just that, illegal”, to quote Brandon. The U.S. government gives visas in countries such as Mexico and Central America every day knowing statistically that significant numbers will not return to their countries of origin (as a former Vice Consul in Mexico, El Salvador and Cuba I say this from first-hand experience). These people enter the U.S. legally and then remain “illegally” but with the tacit complicity of the U.S. State Department which issued the visas. They represent on portion of the “illegal” but essential workforce in the U.S. Another part comes through the efforts of U.S. corporations and “recruiters” who assist people to get to the U.S., as revealed in exposes not long ago.
As to the U.S. fighting abroad to “end terrorism”, I disagree. The U.S. is a terrorist state, concocted rationales for the invasion and occupation of country after country. Often this is done under the slogan, “Killing terrorist abroad to prevent them from killing us at home”. In fact, the U.S. military has sent more U.S. citizens to their death “at the hands of terrorists” in Iraq and Afghanistan, than were killed in the still not fully clarified crimes on Sept 11th, 2001. The Brandons of the world can throw their tanrtums and act the role of indignant patriots all they want. The reality is that the people of the world clearly understand that the U.S. is lone remaining imperialist aggressor on the planet and thus a threat to global peace and harmony. If you are deeply invested in the massive economy of the U.S. globabl military/defense/mercenary/intelligence/police state apparatus (which is worth trillions) and the false ideologues which support it, then you will lash out like Brandon at shadows, windmills, and fellow commentators.
Brandon??…evidently, you didn’t read my post correctly and have taken what I said out of context…to quote you “Bottom line is: illegal immigration is just that. ILLEGAL. Come into our country LEGALLY and I will welcome you…where in my posting did I say I condoned illegal entry into this country??..what I actually said was “I’m not condoning what Mr.Dominguez is doing in any way shape or form…and believe that if you want to live and work in the “United States” that you should apply for a visa and come on in”…so, where do you get that I think illegal entry is ok??..then you have the audacity to say “You’re spitting on the graves of the fallen of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI, WII and more.”..excuse you!!…but I am a former Navy WAVES…I am not “spitting” on anyone’s grave…I have served my Country and I am more patriotic than you could possibly conceive as I have sworn to defend My Homeland to the death…I have nothing but admiration and pride for my fellow patriots and especially those that have served in the military…I totally understand how, what and why this country was founded…what I was trying to get across..and as we have seemed to have forgotten is that the adversities that brought my ancestors(and probably yours) here still pervade in this world to this day and that is what makes the USA so appealing to those who are in less fortunate circumstances…but I wonder how legal/moral it was to destroy the American Indian Nations that were already here…50 million Indians lived in “the Americas” when our Founding Fathers came here and decided that they were more “civilized” than the “natives” who had lived here for hundreds of years already and that they could just “take the Indian’s lands”…civilized my ass…the Founding Fathers committed atrocious acts of terrorism against these Nations but yet we have elevated some of these men to iconic status…B/S, Brandon…are you kidding??..you need to understand the concept that we are “One People, One Planet”…oh yeah btw…do you believe and realize that all HUMAN BEINGS bleed red no matter what the color of the skin is on the outside??..’cause if you don’t then go on with your “prejudices and racism”…
…end of my rant and I thank you…
Serena J.
Nothing worse than reading some whiny punk liberal cry about how awful America is. And they wonder why liberal is considered a bad word, why the ‘Blame America first’ crowd is so despised and hated by regular Americans, not their latte sipping homo companions.
The left is the true enemy of America and should be treated as such.
The days of Voltaire are long gone and America should be hanging these intellectual cowards from our shores. I hate them all and hope you die soon from aids of the anal cavity.