Databases. Security cameras. IP addresses. These are some of the most popular swear words in the privacy world at the moment, and if you you wait a little longer, add GPS trackers and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to the list as well. Privacy groups are convinced that the personal lives of everyone are quickly becoming threatened from the advancements in technology.However, is technology really being used as a weapon towards our privacy, or is it in fact a vital tool in the solving and prevention of crime, and a way of making life easier?
Today, it seems every part of our lives can be logged, recorded or tracked. If I take the car to the nearest shopping centre, my journey will be logged by cameras on the motorway, sending the car's number plate to a huge database. If I decide to go for a walk in the countryside, all it takes is my mobile phone to be switched on in order for me to be tracked, as all the police need is a mobile number in order to track my phone based on the nearest mobile phone towers. If I decide to do some shopping on the net, that too will be logged, as is every website I visit is logged by my ISP. Pretty creepy. But is it worth it?
Security services used the surveillance features above during the 7 July bombings in London, and being able to use these methods of surveillance was vital in the process of identifying the attackers. CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras often provide evidence that would otherwise leave many crimes unsolvable. However, sometimes our privacy is invaded not just for the sake of crime prevention.
We are giving information to private-sector companies and websites all the time. Sometimes the information is personal, sometimes it's not. But as consumers and users, we rarely put privacy first, and it ends up as a side thought. Unfortunately, it's often the same for companies and websites developers, particularly the latter. Website developers are just that: developers – not lawyers or security advisers. When you submit your information to a website, where does your information go? Does the company destroy your data the moment it's no longer necessary, or do they store it? It is questions like these that need answering, both in the public sector and the private sector.
It's easy to blame other people though. Although the government and other organisations have questions to answer, when it comes to looking after our own information, many of us are far too careless. The problem is that we, as consumers, would rather have convenience over privacy. We'd rather have our browsers be helpful and suggestive based on browser usage from the past, even if it does mean anyone could see what you've been up to on the net for the last week. We'd rather have our social networking privacy settings set so we broadcast our details to a larger range of people, even if it means our data could be in the sight of people we might not be so friendly with. We can't have our cake and eat it; if we want better privacy, we should be prepared to lose some benefits.
The truth is, although the government could do more to look after our personal data, such as updating and enforcing the Data Protection Act, they provide us with plenty of information regarding how to look after our information, including the Freedom of Information Act, allowing us to find out what information a public-sector organisation holds about us, as long as it's not a security risk. The harsh reality is that we, the consumers, need to look after our data. Sure, you can't help being filmed by CCTV cameras in the street, and you can't help having your DNA sample put in the police database on a case, even if you're not found to be guilty. But you can turn up your privacy settings on Facebook so only your closer friends can find your address, and you can configure your browser to only store what it needs to. It's time to up the value of our privacy.
Technology is definitely a tool to assist us, however, I don't think we should be using surveillance features that offer more than what is considered to be reasonable. There needs to be some clarification from organisations which hold our data, and I don't mean that standard copy and paste privacy policy that you see everywhere on the web, I mean facts and figures, telling us where our data goes, how long they have it, and what they do with it. As for everyone else, what does it matter if you're being watched left, right and centre if you're broadcasting pictures of last night's party to the world on Facebook?
I loved that Movie!! Something similar might happen when we advance into further technologies.
It's not about privacy, it's about mass control. It's about the loss of private property and human rights. We don't OWN anything anymore. Today the government can raid any home using the excuse of fighting "terrorism" or drugs. You can be locked up without trial even if you are an American citizen. You call this America? The only reason there isn't more of an outcry about it is because it has only been done on a small scale so far. If they ever choose to impose martial law (e.g. the economy gets much worse and people start rioting) it will be too late to stop it. You'd be surprised at how your neighbors can quickly turn into your enemies because someone in the government ordered it, or just because they don't want to be next! Then what are you going to do? Where are you going to go?
If you think this has never happened before in America's history, it did, during WW2, when thousands of Japanese Americans were locked up in Guantamo Bay-like prisons. One of those was George Takai (Sulu from Star Trek). Maybe this kind of thing is OK in totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany, North Korea, or Saudi Arabia, but it's not OK in a country that claims to be Democratic and free and "the good guys."
If you think this has never happened before in America's history, it did, during WW2, when thousands of Japanese Americans were locked up in Guantamo Bay-like prisons. One of those was George Takai (Sulu from Star Trek). Maybe this kind of thing is OK in totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany, North Korea, or Saudi Arabia, but it's not OK in a country that claims to be Democratic and free and "the good guys."
Mass control...lol. Seriously. When has anyone owned anything in any time period in any country that couldn't possibly be taken away by the government of that country in some way for some reason? If the government has "so much control" over everything like you say it does, then why would they need to impose martial law? What exactly are you talking about when you mean neighbours turn into enemies because "someone in the government has ordered it"?? :s. Japanese Americans weren't locked up in Guantanamo (notice how I spelt it?) Bay-like prisons, you can't compare that to Nazi's, NK or SA. They were containment camps, not prisons, and they only did it after Japan attacked the US, not just because they wanted control over the Japanese Americans for no reason.
oh well, in that case its fine to detain American Citizens against their will for an indefinite period of time. because we are scared. Its all fine and dandy so long as someone from your ethnic group does not slight the U.S. Is that it? Are you F'ing insane? Have you ever read the constitution? It does not say "We the people, when times are good and no one is scared of possible threats..."
Haha. I never said it was fine or that it should have been done, I certainly don't agree with it, in fact I stated no opinion on whether I agree or disagree with it. Please read properly the comment that I replied to first and you might realize what I am talking about. I just said that this cannot be compared to what the Nazi's did or how NK and SA treat their citizens, and certainly is not the same as a Guantanamo Bay-like prison. Also, no, I have not read the constitution, because I am not a US citizen and as such I don't see the US as the centre of the universe and just assume that everyone on the internet is American
Please learn to read and understand what other people are talking about before you post random off-topic s*** with unnecessary and immature personal attacks, thanks
because you're going to have to accept either an acceptable level of risk, or an acceptable level of privacy
like i wanna be safe n all, but the idea that all of my personal doings can be recorded somewhere is just as scary
I think communication plays a vital role in making us feel more comfortable giving our personal data.
because you're going to have to accept either an acceptable level of risk, or an acceptable level of privacy
like i wanna be safe n all, but the idea that all of my personal doings can be recorded somewhere is just as scary
It is *all* about trade-offs.
If you demand absolute privacy, then you have no choice but to give up some of the benefits of having details in even the semi-public domain (such as ID cards, passports, fingerprint records, medical records, etc.)
How many are willing to give all that up (and the resulting loss of security that comes WITH giving those up)?
And we are, by and large, a society of societies that is all too willing to *trust the government* to protect us, when they have, all too often, done a poor job of it? (While I'm an American, I'm not talking about *just* the United States, or even a single state; I can't name ANY nation, even the autocracies and theocracies of the Middle East, that has any sort of decent record of preventing crimes against persons or property!)
because you're going to have to accept either an acceptable level of risk, or an acceptable level of privacy
like i wanna be safe n all, but the idea that all of my personal doings can be recorded somewhere is just as scary
i would give up this illusion of security for actual privacy any day of the week. The Constitution is the Constitution, and its quite plain and direct in its wording. Security be damned.
When did anyone say anything about "The Constitution" or the United States? This article is not specifically referring to any one country, so your constitution does not apply to the whole world
Last edited by ricknl on 19 Jul 2009 - 16:19
Privacy needs to take a back seat to the real issue: the role of law enforcement. The government must not feel at war with its own people. Once they start spying on us and we start sneaking past them, things have gotten out of hand on BOTH sides. It has to stop.
it all resumes to better educating our seeds so they will not be affected or better prepared for a surveilance world!
it all resumes on how we all alow this to happen...
...or is it inevitable?
the blame should be squarely placed on the individual (not talking about credit card info being hacked due to bank network being exploited) ... isn't only common sense to keep some things to yourself?
European Laws state that isp's must keep a database retaining your traffic
http://www.ukcheapbroadband.com/broadband-...gulations-2009/
They're humans just like us. People can purposefully break the law, or not do their job properly, and the police and government are no exception. However, they are in a better position to cover up their tracks if nobody is watching them, just as unwatched citizens could be up to anything and hiding it from the government and police, or each other. If as a society, we decide that surveillance is important, we should have it in place everywhere, not just on select groups. All I see in the news is stuff about watching private citizens from their own country. It's not about watching people who are trying to get in the country, or watching those who are given the power to enforce or to take grand actions such as the police and government.
Last edited by HalcyonX12 on 19 Jul 2009 - 18:25
when it comes to nudity, disease (if you have aids and dont want others to know lol) MONEY and things like that, then privacy is important. but if it's a way to expose crime THEN it's not an invasion.
a camera that can identify a speeder on the road is VERY welcome. i'll admit if i am caught speeding then it's my own fault. if ya can't do the time don't do the crime!
oh and while you're at it, hook us up with your facebook, twitter, IM address too. whats the harm? come on, i won't use your info for anything bad
I value my privacy. I have nothing illegal to hide, but I don't think any of what I do is yours or anyone else's business.
Yeah, that's why the government hides things. Companies with trade secrets are also highly illegal. We should be watching them. We should also watch the guy trying to hide a surprise from his wife. We should be able to watch the woman trying to hide from her abusive husband, and the guy who's trying to keep his basket weaving hobby a secret so he won't get teased. We should be able to watch that other guy who's trying to come up with an invention that's patentable, there's no need to keep that secret. Test answers should be exposed, like everyone's religion and sexual orientation, and password list. Passwords, PINs, and credit card numbers should not be hidden!
Yeah, that's why the government hides things. Companies with trade secrets are also highly illegal. We should be watching them. We should also watch the guy trying to hide a surprise from his wife. We should be able to watch the woman trying to hide from her abusive husband, and the guy who's trying to keep his basket weaving hobby a secret so he won't get teased. We should be able to watch that other guy who's trying to come up with an invention that's patentable, there's no need to keep that secret. Test answers should be exposed, like everyone's religion and sexual orientation, and password list. Passwords, PINs, and credit card numbers should not be hidden!
azcodemonkey couldn't have said it better myself
but i'm concerned with what people might do with my name/identity.
imagine the horror to find your passport next to a murder victim!
In many cases a witness that can lie and does forget (a person) is being replaced with a witness that can never lie, and does not forget (a camera, ignoring automatic feature recognition software).
Most ISPs (in the UK, at least) log every website that you visit for at least six months. And when I say every website, I mean every IP address related event is logged. However, the good side to this is that ISPs only hand out this data to the authorities, and most are reluctant to without good reason.
ANPR cameras do in fact log your registration plate (and the location it was at), and store it in the National ANPR Data Centre, for up to five years, according to this article.
The "if I have done nothing wrong, I have nothing to hide" statement is a statement for complete surveillance in every part of our lives. Although I agree that the benefits of it provide us with safety, I think we have to know where to draw the line.
Only a judge via a court of law can authorize that in the UK I believe.
Privacy, and its associated tools, are all about protecting you, and your data.
Why do you lock up your door at night? To prevent someone getting in.
Why do you make sure your wallet is in your pocket? To prevent someone stealing it and using your Credit Card.
Why do websites that have encryption exist? To ensure your credit card details are safely transmitted over the internet.
I use encryption all the time, and if the government asked me to reveal the information, I would ask for a valid reason. Not because I am attempting to hide something, but because I am protecting the data on my computer.
Using a laptop, something easily stolen, the loss of a laptop is far less, then the loss of the data in the long run.
Your address book, well that can easily be used by organised crime syndicates for targeted phishing scams, your bank receipts and other records on your computer can be used to help ID Fraud. Your saved passwords for your websites can be analysed, recovered - and many people use the same passwords for there internet banking providing access to your money.
These are just some of the reasons my Home Directory of my laptop is encrypted. I don't care if someone gets hold of my music or photos - there is nothing there to worry about. But the information core to my identity, information transmitted via IM or eMail can sometimes be confidential - be it user details, birth dates, bank details for transferring cash etc.
I am not hiding it from the government if they can provide a reason, I am making it harder for the average thief who might steal my laptop, or the fool who buys it to get access to my data.
I deal in a line of work, where being able to ensure that the data on my laptop is secure is a point to consider. But by securing the data so it cannot be misused, I am automatically labelled by many here as a deviant attempting to hide something.
Sorry - but a valid concern for Privacy, and using Encryption Technology to achieve that, does not make me a Terrorist. If you really believe that, then you had better start buying more aluminium foil for your hats.
Some information you can't control, some you can - Turn up the privacy settings on facebook for one.
Create different groups so some people can't see your status messages - your less likely to get fired if you take a Sicky and then set your status to having a great day out at the cricket if your Boss can't see it.
But oh wait - that means you have something to hide. You must be a terrorist like everyone else out there that cares about who knows what.
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