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Published Date: 15 July 2008
Do Google's latest plans pose a threat to our liberty, asks John Welford.
I HAVE to say that I am in two minds about Google Street View, the new web facility which may be incorporating Edinburgh shortly. This is an imaginative extension to the already impressive Google Maps facility, and it represents a truly mind-boggling
advance in technology.

At the same time I hate the very idea of a surveillance society, a world in which there will be minimal privacy and "no place to hide". But what has this to do with Street View?

Clearly, there will be some people who will not mind having close-up images of their neighbourhoods, houses – and even themselves – easily viewable on the web. But there are others for whom this could be extremely dangerous – for example, a person on a witness protection programme or else a woman and her children trying to hide from a former violent partner and parent.

We must always, therefore, be looking for a way of using new technologies which is proportionate, humane and citizen-friendly and does not risk our safety or invade our privacy. Unfortunately, the recent record has not been good. Without doubt the worst example took place last November when the two government CDs went missing, along with key personal and banking information for half the UK population.

However, I must stress that the greatest threat to our privacy will come with the introduction of compulsory identity cards and the associated "database state".

What you will really have to fear is the allocation to you of a Unique Person Number and then the linkage together into one vast multi-database structure of every scrap of information that the state holds on you: health, family, education, employment, property, finance and tax, state benefits, travel, libraries, leisure, etc. This will bring about cradle-to-grave surveillance.

Google Street View I can live with so long as appropriate safeguards are scrupulously incorporated. But as for compulsory ID cards and the database state, this country must never go down that route.

• Dr John Welford is Edinburgh co-ordinator for the NO2ID campaign





The full article contains 363 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 July 2008 9:52 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

The Tin Man,

15/07/2008 11:12:19
42 days detention without trial for everyone caught on CCTV not displaying their ID cards.
2

EWB,

UK 15/07/2008 12:06:14
Meinen Sie denn nicht, #2: "Bitte Ihre Papiere vorzeigen und machen Sie's schnell, britischer Schweinehund!"?

The trouble is: concepts like "britisch" and "das Vereinigte Königreich" wouldn't mean much to the average German border guard for whom "englisch" and "England" would be more usual.

Why pick on the Germans, anyway? Identity cards are a feature of other European states, too. And it will probably a duty that every EU citizen carry one. Don't forget that from this autumn, everyone resident in this country who is not a member of the EU or the EEA will have to obtain a British identity card and that all British citizens will have to obtain an ID card and/or a passport from 2010.

Visit the Identity and Passport Service website for more information.

This is all to protect us from terrorism, you understand.
3

Boggle fey the Bog,

15/07/2008 12:48:26
3 EWB,UK 15/07/2008 12:06:14

You are wrong on the last bit, the law, to make ID compulsory has not even been passsed by parliament yet, they are and will be voluntary even post 2010.

Although you may have difficulty getting your pension, medical treatment, a job etc; if you don't have one.

for the full story of this 'Big Brother'activity go here.

http://www.no2id.net/
4

Alberto.,

15/07/2008 12:51:30
From above article!
"But as for compulsory ID cards and the database state, this country must never go down that route.@
*********

Yet this eems to9 be exactly the way it's going, seemingly for the sole purpose of the 'beloved' EU and this crazy governments desire for 'Toatal Control' which is essential for the way they want to run things!

Signs of the 1930's again, Hitlerism, Gestapo and all that - i.e. 'Do as you're told, when you're told, and only if you're told - and we don't seem too far away from it even now!

Surely, 'Lest we have Forgotten!' we have no wish for such Political Paradise to be forcibly fed to us and control our lives - or am I wrong?

#3 EWB

"This is all to protect us from terrorism, you understand."

**********
Presumably referring to the Governments 'Alleged Fight' AGAINST Terrorism, whereby, when they are caught - and found guilty (and let's not forget the terrorists lifelong ambition towards us!!!!) this mad Government, at extremely high cost to the Country insists these ‘known’ terrorists must be ‘protected’ from coming to any harm from anyone - regardless, while still having them in a position to ‘get free’, however by whoever, and even possibly, legally!!!! A situation maybe not as impossible as the ‘authorities think’ and still carry out their wicked and vile attempts to destroy us, regardless of the comfort they enjoy, especially considering their main purpose in their life!!

We are definitely experiencing being controlled by a lunatic fringe (at least I hope it’s only a fringe - but not too assured!) in this asylum - aka Great Britain ‘Once Upon A Time!’
5

Epicuras,

15/07/2008 14:00:26
lets be honest the 2010 date for even voluntary ID cards is nonsense - there has to be an election before then and Labour, the only party who (partially) support there introduction wil be out of office by them. All that will happen is around £10 billion of tax payers money will be given to dodgy private companies, such as those part owed by David Blunkett (one of the early promoters of ID cards); and then written off - it's just a jobs for the boys/fingers in the till exercise.
6

Epicuras,

15/07/2008 14:01:03
lets be honest the 2010 date for even voluntary ID cards is nonsense - there has to be an election before then and Labour, the only party who (partially) support their introduction wil be out of office by them. All that will happen is around £10 billion of tax payers money will be given to dodgy private companies, such as those part owed by David Blunkett (one of the early promoters of ID cards); and then written off - it's just a jobs for the boys/fingers in the till exercise.
7

Peter - very disappointed/concerned,

Edinburgh 15/07/2008 14:24:31
#7 Epicuras,

As you say, it doesn't look as if Labour will be returned to power at the next UK General Election.

I am now a very ex-Labour supporter, one of many who resent this appalling notion of introducing such a monitored/surveillance orientated society. It is to be sencerely hoped that whoever replaces them as the UK Government scraps this obnoxious project. It is also a pity that so much public money will be lost when this happens.

Regarding Google Street View, or any other package which will allow others to oversee our activities. Apart from the obvious, I see this step as a potential security hazard in that viewers could be observing people's homes with intent to rob while the house is empty. This category of 'innovation' could go a long way to increase crime.
8

My opinions count for more than yours,

because I'm special 15/07/2008 14:51:20
The ID card scheme is very clever. Those of us who aren't terrorists will merely have to flash our ID card to saunter through airports, bus shelters, the opera, etc. while the naughty terrorists will be caught short because they won't have a card (or it will say "terrorist" on theirs).
9

The Tin Man,

101000101101110101110011 15/07/2008 15:21:12
#9 My Opinion

I think that should work. On the current UK Citizenship Application form, you can find the following questions:

1) Are you a war criminal? Y/N

2) Have you ever participated in war crimes? Y/N

A question along the lines of 'are you a terrorist?' will undoubtedly sort-out the riff-raff as far as ID cards are concerned.


10

I love to eat Sellotape,

15/07/2008 16:30:20
10.

Those questions about being a war criminal ... are they strictly yes/no? I mean, what if you can't remember or something?
11

lulach mac gille coemgain,

15/07/2008 17:03:07
Chips wi brains please and barcode the genitalia of the fresh born - next !
12

subrosa,

15/07/2008 22:09:42
# 3 'This is all to protect us from terrorism, you understand'

No I don't understand. I'm just a common person. Please explain.
13

Alberto.,

16/07/2008 14:49:36
#10.

Don't worry - or more to the point, do seriously worry!

We've seen it all before - 1939 era!

You will find that the 'New Crowd' will have ways of twisting your arm (even to the point of it droppng off - if necessary!

They will always have ways of ' Making you talk!!!

Most, if not all of them - 'You will not like!

Beware, and beware again, the time is creeping nearer hour by hour!!
14

Kipling,

@DoomRay 16/07/2008 23:20:33
The 'State' is of course made up of all sorts of people- temporary, permanent, sackable, changing jobs, with friends who may be criminals, fraudsters, opportunists. They may be bored, too lazy to follow procedures or guidelines, nosy/invasive into the data if it intrigues them. They may be doing drugs at weekends & need to pay for their habit by passing out information. We need to be protected from the ordinary human who comprises 'the State'. Best never to collect the information in the first place.

 

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