Big Brother is watching you

[Marcus Houlden]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:40:07 +0100, Mike Swift <[email protected]>
wrote the following to uk.local.yorkshire.moderated:

> In article <[email protected]>, Pilgrim
><[email protected]> writes
>>> > This is already a reality on the country's motorway network. Cameras
>>> > mounted alongside the roads can read your numberplate. This can be
>>> > passed to the Police for traffic monitoring, speed limit enforcement
>>> > simple surveillance or road tolls.
>>>
>>> So a right wing government could use it to monitor and control the
>>> movements of trade unionists then.
>>
>>This government uses it to monitor and control the movements of the
>>entire population.
>
> Article in today's Sunday Times on how the government is to set up a
> database for *every* child in Britain.

It seems *every* govt enquiry suggests setting up a new database. Are they
being lobbied by Oracle or something?

AFAICR, most data problems arise from people falling between so many
databases and data operators being given incorrect information about the
Data Protection Acts. I suppose it's easier to blame an act of parliament
than people who are supposed to provide accurate training. Even when there's
only one database, the govt gets it wrong. I still remember the time when
Virginia Bottomley launched the new NHS database and it told her that her
NHS number didn't exist. It seems the best option for the govt would be to
stop using databases as a panacea and get the processes right instead.

mh.
--
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[Marcus Houlden]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:40:07 +0100, Mike Swift <[email protected]>
wrote the following to uk.local.yorkshire.moderated:

> In article <[email protected]>, Pilgrim
><[email protected]> writes
>>> > This is already a reality on the country's motorway network. Cameras
>>> > mounted alongside the roads can read your numberplate. This can be
>>> > passed to the Police for traffic monitoring, speed limit enforcement
>>> > simple surveillance or road tolls.
>>>
>>> So a right wing government could use it to monitor and control the
>>> movements of trade unionists then.
>>
>>This government uses it to monitor and control the movements of the
>>entire population.
>
> Article in today's Sunday Times on how the government is to set up a
> database for *every* child in Britain.

It seems *every* govt enquiry suggests setting up a new database. Are they
being lobbied by Oracle or something?

AFAICR, most data problems arise from people falling between so many
databases and data operators being given incorrect information about the
Data Protection Acts. I suppose it's easier to blame an act of parliament
than people who are supposed to provide accurate training. Even when there's
only one database, the govt gets it wrong. I still remember the time when
Virginia Bottomley launched the new NHS database and it told her that her
NHS number didn't exist. It seems the best option for the govt would be to
stop using databases as a panacea and get the processes right instead.

mh.
--
Reply-to address *is* valid.

Using Windows? Get the security update CD.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp

 

[Marcus Houlden]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:40:07 +0100, Mike Swift <[email protected]>
wrote the following to uk.local.yorkshire.moderated:

> In article <[email protected]>, Pilgrim
><[email protected]> writes
>>> > This is already a reality on the country's motorway network. Cameras
>>> > mounted alongside the roads can read your numberplate. This can be
>>> > passed to the Police for traffic monitoring, speed limit enforcement
>>> > simple surveillance or road tolls.
>>>
>>> So a right wing government could use it to monitor and control the
>>> movements of trade unionists then.
>>
>>This government uses it to monitor and control the movements of the
>>entire population.
>
> Article in today's Sunday Times on how the government is to set up a
> database for *every* child in Britain.

It seems *every* govt enquiry suggests setting up a new database. Are they
being lobbied by Oracle or something?

AFAICR, most data problems arise from people falling between so many
databases and data operators being given incorrect information about the
Data Protection Acts. I suppose it's easier to blame an act of parliament
than people who are supposed to provide accurate training. Even when there's
only one database, the govt gets it wrong. I still remember the time when
Virginia Bottomley launched the new NHS database and it told her that her
NHS number didn't exist. It seems the best option for the govt would be to
stop using databases as a panacea and get the processes right instead.

mh.
--
Reply-to address *is* valid.

Using Windows? Get the security update CD.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp

 

[Marcus Houlden]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:40:07 +0100, Mike Swift <[email protected]>
wrote the following to uk.local.yorkshire.moderated:

> In article <[email protected]>, Pilgrim
><[email protected]> writes
>>> > This is already a reality on the country's motorway network. Cameras
>>> > mounted alongside the roads can read your numberplate. This can be
>>> > passed to the Police for traffic monitoring, speed limit enforcement
>>> > simple surveillance or road tolls.
>>>
>>> So a right wing government could use it to monitor and control the
>>> movements of trade unionists then.
>>
>>This government uses it to monitor and control the movements of the
>>entire population.
>
> Article in today's Sunday Times on how the government is to set up a
> database for *every* child in Britain.

It seems *every* govt enquiry suggests setting up a new database. Are they
being lobbied by Oracle or something?

AFAICR, most data problems arise from people falling between so many
databases and data operators being given incorrect information about the
Data Protection Acts. I suppose it's easier to blame an act of parliament
than people who are supposed to provide accurate training. Even when there's
only one database, the govt gets it wrong. I still remember the time when
Virginia Bottomley launched the new NHS database and it told her that her
NHS number didn't exist. It seems the best option for the govt would be to
stop using databases as a panacea and get the processes right instead.

mh.
--
Reply-to address *is* valid.

Using Windows? Get the security update CD.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp

 

[Mike Roebuck]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:40:07 +0100, Mike Swift
<[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, Pilgrim
><[email protected]> writes
>>> > This is already a reality on the country's motorway network. Cameras
>>> > mounted alongside the roads can read your numberplate. This can be
>>> > passed to the Police for traffic monitoring, speed limit enforcement
>>> > simple surveillance or road tolls.
>>>
>>> So a right wing government could use it to monitor and control the
>>> movements of trade unionists then.
>>
>>This government uses it to monitor and control the movements of the
>>entire population.
>
>Article in today's Sunday Times on how the government is to set up a
>database for *every* child in Britain.
>
>They will be given a number, it's not yet clear if this will be tattooed
>on the arm at birth, and will contain such information as medical and
>educational records and information about any relatives who are a bit
>'dodgy', the definition of 'dodgy' also hasn't been defined.
>
>Be Afraid, Be Very, Very Afraid, 1984 is alive and kicking and only 20
>years late.

Have you got a new-style passport yet Mike? The one with the details
not on the back page, but on the first page from the back?

I have. It has your salient details at the bottom of that page,
divided by lots of chevrons. When I finally got to Immigration at
Heathrow last night (don't ask), the Immigration Officer put the whole
page to some sort of scanning device (the Russians had done the same
at Moscow Airport), but *then* she took that loose page, and ran the
bottom bit through a reader. So they're now monitoring evveryone with
a new EU passport every timne they leave or enter the country. Up to
now they've usually only given my passport a cursory glance as I
passed through.




--

Regards

Mike

mikedotroebuckatgmxdotnet

 

[Mike Swift]

In article <[email protected]>, martin
<[email protected]> writes
>The Dutch have scanned passports or manually entered info off passports
>as long as I can remember. Their database checks for unpaid fines etc.,
>if caught you have to pay on the spot. If you haven't done anything
>wrong what have you to fear?

I used to be a very firm subscriber to your last sentence but I'm less
and less sure as time passes.

Mike

--
Michael Swift We do not regard Englishmen as foreigners.
Kirkheaton We look on them only as rather mad Norwegians.
Yorkshire Halvard Lange
'46 M Y++ L+ U KQ+ c B+ P99S P00S p+ Sh++ S(BAR) R(HD5)

 

[Pilgrim]

"martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 17:25:06 +0100, Mike Swift
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>, martin
> ><[email protected]> writes
> >>The Dutch have scanned passports or manually entered info off passports
> >>as long as I can remember. Their database checks for unpaid fines etc.,
> >>if caught you have to pay on the spot. If you haven't done anything
> >>wrong what have you to fear?
> >
> >I used to be a very firm subscriber to your last sentence but I'm less
> >and less sure as time passes.
> I've spent most of my life wearing some sort of ID badge or other,
> including those of high security US sites and I have yet to have had a
> problem.
> Try dealing with IR/DSS in Newcastle and it quickly becomes obvious
> that UK government database software contractors are in the dark ages.

Yebbut, I feel the same as Swifty. I am a very law abiding person, the only
law I rouinely break is certain speed limits. Nevertheless (and this is
after undergoing a police check for convictions that might mark me as
unsuitable for my work that requires I be a fit and proper person to work
with children from time to time). But even so I feel very uneasy about the
amount of information about me that is in the public domain. I don't use
store cards unless I have bought things that I wouldn't usually buy
The final straw came when I had to provide a load of personal info to
register with The Guardian Online (hypocritical bastards); obviously I
filled it out with the minimum of correct info to allow me to register (I
told them I lived in Antartica. Ha! Wrong pole! ;-))

So, I've done nothing wrong, but I don't even know who reads my email...

--
Pilgrim