RCN’s product raises some privacy concerns
By: Sherree DeCovny
WEST WINDSOR Ever wonder what your kids or pets are doing while you’re not home?
Maybe you’ve had that nagging doubt that you forgot to turn off the coffee pot before rushing out the door.
Or perhaps you wish friends or relatives who live far away could share in a special moment. If you fall into any of these categories, a new product called WebWatch from West Windsor-based RCN Corp. may be right up your alley.
WebWatch is a first-of-its-kind home-monitoring system that allows subscribers to remotely view real-time video of their premises through any PC that is connected to a high-speed Internet connection. The product, which is being test-marketed in Boston, is targeted toward two demographics residential users and small business.
Residential customers can use WebWatch to keep tabs on the house while they are away from home. Small businesses also can use WebWatch as a monitoring tool or backup security system to avoid false alarm charges.
"Those are the two separate segments that we were targeting," says Elad Nafshi, vice president of Internet and phone product management at RCN. "I would say we’ve gotten pretty good responses from both."
Critics claim WebWatch is a little too like Big Brother for comfort.
"When information is placed in a digital format, it may be available for much longer than the original intent, purpose or desire of those who create it," warns Lillie Coney, associate director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) in Washington, D.C. "Consumers should consider the long and short term positives or negatives of recording activity in their living space."
But RCN says the system is so secure that intrusion is unlikely. WebWatch is secured end-to-end with a log-in user name and password as well as built-in security features in the camera, router and server.
Ultimately, it’s the customers who need to satisfy themselves that the information truly is safe from unauthorized intruders, including RCN employees, Ms. Coney says, pointing out that that information on household routines and who is present in the home could be useful to criminals.
She also notes that consumers need to be aware that RCN may be required to turn the stored video files over to the government upon request without a court order under the USA Patriot Act. Moreover, users must be comfortable with RCN potentially using the information for marketing purposes like building customer profiles, she said.
Finally, she said, consumers must consider the effect such a service might have on family life if certain household members feel they are being spied on.
To use WebWatch, customers place up to four small, wireless cameras throughout their homes or businesses. While they are away, they simply log in to a secure Web site to view real-time streaming videos. Customers can view one camera at a time or all four simultaneously. The video can also be recorded for later viewing.
WebWatch’s wireless cameras feature specially-designed motion detectors that, when activated, record automatically and notify customers via e-mail, cell phone or other wireless device that motion has been detected in their home or business.
The service costs $9.95 a month, and that fee includes one Linksys video camera. Additional cameras are available at retail outlets such as Best Buy, Circuit City or CompUSA. Users can install the cameras themselves or RCN will install cameras for them for an additional fee.
"The product was built with families in mind, so we really tried to create a seamless, automated installation that really does not require you to be technically savvy," Mr. Nafshi said.
WebWatch leverages a fiber-rich network, but connectivity is achieved over coaxial cable. Users who want to share connectivity across multiple PCs can deploy a wired or wireless router. Those who choose the wireless alternative must ensure the connection is configured and encrypted properly, otherwise security may be compromised.
Once RCN irons out any kinks that emerge in the Boston trial, the company plans to roll out the service in other markets.
RCN serves the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia areas, in addition to the New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan regions.
"We’re in the process of tracking the results of the Boston launch, and based on that, we’re going to make decisions on the future roll out," Mr. Nafshi said.

