Increased surveillance

May 19th, 2009

Having just seen The Simpsons movie it made me wonder if the room with all the US agents listening in on peoples telephone calls actually exists anywhere. Are we under constant surveillance, with our phone calls and daily activities constantly watched? Well we are one step closer with communication companies are being asked to keep more information on their customers. Plans were scrapped to make a massive database of all online activity, but the extra information is still close to it.

With the huge advances in technology we have made there needs to be new ways to deal with it being exploited by criminals. One of the new schemes that looks like it is going ahead is the I.D. card. They are already trialling ID cards in some parts of the country but I am not sure how secure it will be to have even biometic data along with all your other personal information stored on one card. It is supposed to counter terrorism as no one will be able to have false identities. That works as long as they can not be forged and I doubt that will take very long.

I think that it is a sad reflection on society that ambulance crew only feel safe if CCTV is installed in the back of all ambulances. It means that not only are we watched where ever we go, but now when we are ill and rushed to hospital we are still being watched.

The one thing I do not like the idea of is people listening in on phone conversations like it was depicted on The Simpsons Movie. It feels more invasive if people are actually listening in on what you are saying or recording your call. I am happy as long as you are informed before hand like most companies do, when they say you are being recorded for training purposes and the call is logged for new employees to train with.

The increase in surveillance is not a nice concept but I think it is necessary to help prevent crime.

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