Privacy-do we still believe in it?

[SFG75]

I ask as new measures are being implemented for "our own good" and only a few malcontents appear to be seriously bothered by it. This morning's Washington Post had a great article about how the EU is going to require mug shots and fingerprinting of all incoming tourists. I'm not too happy that W. instituted the same kind of rule, I kind of expected it from him though. The constitution is rather inconvenient isn't it?

So do we still value privacy or is the heel of oppressive government-nanny-state-jack-boots just too comfortable for "our own good?"

The plan is part of a vast and growing trend on both sides of the Atlantic to collect and share data electronically to identify and track people in the name of national security and immigration control. U.S. government computers now have access to data on financial transactions; air travel details such as name, itinerary and credit card numbers; and the names of those sending and receiving express-mail packages -- even a description of the contents.

Makes me wonder,who will watch the watchers?

 

[Sybarite]

Never mind the EU in general, the UK public is sleepwalking into a 'big brother' society.

We have more CCTV than any other country in the world (it's supposed to stop/solve crime, so presumably we have a concomitantly low rate of crime/high clear-up rate), to the extent that, in a large town/city, you can quite easily be photographed 300 times a day.

The government wants to implement ID cards where we've never had them before (although successive governments have been mooting this since the 1980s – strangely the Tories seem to have forgotten this now and are claiming that they don't support them).

Testing the ground for such moves, there has been talk of a universal DNA database – in other words, genetic records of every individual, from infant onward.

Incidentally, let's not forget that the US now insists on biometric passports of people visiting its shores and, as the story makes clear, fingerprinting etc essential for anyone entering the US. So this is not new.

Do I personally believe that it makes us 'safer'? No. It's the lies of government – not just here, but in the US – to convince gullible fools to give up basic rights. Would such things have stopped 9/11 or 7/7 or Madrid? No. Would such measures have stopped IRA bombs in England (and I've had the windows of my home rattled more than once by bombs in the City of London to have a clue about what such things mean)? Will it stop identity theft? No. It's bullcrap.

And yet people claim that: 'if you've nothing to hide ..."

Hopefully, recent debacles in the UK over the storage of personal data on government computer systems will slow the pace of all this if not instantly strop it.

It's bullcrap that's aimed at controlling people – not just by information but as part of the wider way of controlling them, by fear.

 

[Motokid]

Don't all passports require a photo?

I'm pretty sure in America all states require Drivers Licenses to have photos now.

If you work legally in America the government has your Social Security number.

Many larger corporations require photo I.D.'s

Your dental records can be had by law enforcment rather quickly.

Any and all credit card transactions are electronically traceable back to your social security number.

Phone call records are kept.

Technology already has you trapped in it's web.

 

[SFG75]

Hopefully, recent debacles in the UK over the storage of personal data on government computer systems will slow the pace of all this if not instantly strop it.

'

Exactly! In the US, the telecommunications industry cooperated in forking over private information. Our senate has passed a bill giving them immunity from lawsuits by average people outraged that their privacy was compromised. It makes you wonder if they have ever heard of the words....due process. I was mistaken all these years that I taught government, evidently, there are people and institutions above the law. Amazing how we have to provide eye scans, fingerprints, barcodes with the mark of the beast on our foreheads, and take off our shoes to board flights, but corporations aren't to be inconvenienced in the slightest.

Yes, they already do have our information, which makes these efforts unnecessary and only prone to more abuse. How much farther do we have to go?