BBC: Britain is 'surveillance society' (per UK Information Commissioner)

[blackhorse]

Britain is 'surveillance society'

Fears that the UK would "sleep-walk into a surveillance society" have become a reality, the government's information commissioner has said.

Richard Thomas, who said he raised concerns two years ago, spoke after research found people's actions were increasingly being monitored.

Researchers highlight "dataveillance", the use of credit card, mobile phone and loyalty card information, and CCTV.

Monitoring of work rates, travel and telecommunications is also rising.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6108496.stm

[The2ndWheel]

1. I can't see how this isn't done everywhere eventually

It's the Information Age. Ad agencies and other corporations would love it, let alone governments.

There are more people, doing more things, all over the world today. Order must be present for civilization to work. In this day and age, the only way to do that is to know everything about a person. It's harder to do that based on sex or race for example(still done that way, but tougher), so to go to the conduct of their character(logical conclusion would be thoughts as well) is the only way to do it.

What else do agencies like DARPA do all day? Play scrabble?

[Solo_in_MD]

2. Actually some pretty good stuff comes out of DARPA

their push in robotics is a case in point.

Back to the topic, there is a trade off between privacy and convienence. Many do not realize that, but we all get to make those choices, and most take a middle ground. For example, I ride a MC most days with a large tail bag. If the camera is not down real low, it won't see the plate. I've actually had a complaint about that from the parking facility I use. Its legal, so I don't really care. If I pay cash for all tolls and gas, it will be very hard to track me except visually. However, since I really don't care I use a EZpass and use a credit card for gas. A choice I make. A thinking person can hide if they choose to, even in the UK.

[Eurobabe]

3. Three words: V for Vendetta

Watch it. It's informative. And three more days till November 5th!