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I'm finally watching Stand Alone Complex and I expected more use of the
technology, especially by Section 9 and underground groups who care not about
the moral/legal reasons.

Is there a specific reason why these two groups do not use it all the time?
Expense? Controlled substance?

Spoilers are ok.


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2019-06-21T01:15:16.397
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2019-06-21T18:34:21.740
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question
ghost-in-the-shell
Why is Motoko Kusanagi usually the only one with thermoptic camouflage?


Mokoto is a pure android, a brain in a robot body, its been a while since i
last watched it but i thing theirs only 2 other pure androids in all the
series and films.

Its a feature of her android body, therefore while other may be highly
augmented (i.e. Batou) they still have human components that means the tech
simply wont work for them.


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2019-06-21T15:38:07.973
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2019-06-21T15:38:07.973
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answer


If you are asking in the Stand Alone Complex Universe / series, **then no
Kusnagi is not the only one who uses it**. We see Batou, the Tachikoma tanks,
the Narcotics Suppression Squad (NSS), the elite JMSDF Black Ops unit Umibozu
and even Togusa uses it in the series. In general, the other Section 9 members
also use it indirectly when they are inside the Tachikoma tanks.

Example of Kusnagi, Batou and Togusa using it at around 1:08 (Episode 1 of SAC
Season 1),

  * YouTube: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAIcWoU117s>
  * Alternative Link: <https://streamable.com/aslwo>

An example of a Tachkikoma using it,

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/T8BDR.jpg)

As for regarding it's usage, legality or possible limitations here's what the
[wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Ghost_in_the_Shell#Thermo-
optical_camouflage) says,

> _An important technology used in the series is thermo-optical camouflage
> (光学迷彩 kōgaku meisai). Members of Section 9 as well as their Tachikoma tanks
> have the ability to activate a special camouflage technology which enables
> them to blend in with the environment, making them near-invisible across all
> visible spectrum and thermal imaging. It is an active stealth system which
> projects ambient conditions of the opposing side, thus rendering the masked
> object transparent by transmission._
>
> _The system is not perfect, as it seems unable to compensate for sudden
> changes and physical impacts and not impervious to close observation. It
> also has difficulty working in rain or if walking through shallow water. A
> faint translucent distortion is shown as the limitations of the technology.
> In the legal landscape of the series, usage of the technology without a
> warrant is heavily restricted. The use of this technology by Section 9 is
> the exception, and not the norm - further highlighting their extraordinary
> legal standing._
>
> _In the Stand Alone Complex alternate timeline, however, this technology
> seems to have been perfected and is capable of operating in highly
> illuminated environment, as evidenced in the episode "Android and I". The
> visual distortions are therefore purely for the benefit of the viewers._

Finally, in the Stand Alone Complex series, I suspect the reason why it
appears that in Section 9 it's usually always only Kusnagi followed by Batou
that use it more frequently is because they are usually the ones that are in
the "offensive/dangerous part" of the operations or take in the solo
offensive/assault operations. And this maybe due to their heavily cyberized /
augmented bodies and their extensive military experience than the other
members. Not saying that the other Section 9 members don't have their own
specialties or quirks. They do and it's used for different purposes.


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2019-06-21T18:34:21.740
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answer