Reply to: Jacqui Smith - biggest threat to liberty in the UK

[Mich the Tester]

12 billion pounds? That’ll quickly end up being 100 billion plus judging by previous government projects.

Now then; here’s a question of conscience considering the market right now; if you have the opportunity to work on this project at a good rate and there isn’t another contract immediately available, would you do it?

I’m a tester, as you might have guessed by my name. I’m vehemently opposed to this kind of system, for both principled and technical reasons (too many to list).

A tester who works on the project would have to live with his conscience, but it would also provide an opportunity to find the bugs which could make people’s lives seriously tulip. On the other hand, if a tester refuses he might face a long time out of a contract, but with a clear conscience.

[Sysman]

In fact this slipped out over a week ago, and if you hadn't been on the lookout for them burying bad news in the reporting of the financial crisis you could be forgiven for missing it:

Government will spy on every call and e-mail

From The Sunday Times
October 5, 2008
Government will spy on every call and e-mail
David Leppard

Ministers are considering spending up to £12 billion on a database to monitor and store the internet browsing habits, e-mail and telephone records of everyone in Britain.

GCHQ, the government’s eavesdropping centre, has already been given up to £1 billion to finance the first stage of the project.

[ratewhore]

They'll be monitoring subversive internet forums next...

[ace00]

More info here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4951864.ece

I trust that using any form of encryption without a government issued licence will be an arrestable offence.

Labour for bringing order and harmony to our lives.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

A point to consider is when the data base goes wrong or the scanning software is poorly written.

In the early 90s I was working with some database software for doctors practice and I was horrified to discover that unless the database was re-indexed after a crash; the wrong prescription would be associated with the wrong patient.

Email scanners can get it wrong like the infamous innocent email to a council about an erection of a shed.

Websense is an example of a poorly written Internet filter, it programmes like that are used there will be many mistakes.

I had a court case once with a property dispute, a lot of my personal information was produced in court that could have only been obtained illegally through a bank clerk and the Inland Revenue. Hence I do not trust anyone least of all the government with any data or data collection.

It's already happening - a bloke had his car seized at the roadside for no insurance because of a cock up in the insurance database. He was insured to drive the car but didn't have all his papers available for inspection immediately.

All these "nothing to hide" wonks obviously haven't tried dealing with the useless cretins that inhabit most of the Court, government etc admin. who assume if you're claiming something is wrong, you must be the next Ian Huntley.

[Paddy]

A point to consider is when the data base goes wrong or the scanning software is poorly written.

In the early 90s I was working with some database software for doctors practice and I was horrified to discover that unless the database was re-indexed after a crash; the wrong prescription would be associated with the wrong patient.

Email scanners can get it wrong like the infamous innocent email to a council about an erection of a shed.

Websense is an example of a poorly written Internet filter, it programmes like that are used there will be many mistakes.

I had a court case once with a property dispute, a lot of my personal information was produced in court that could have only been obtained illegally through a bank clerk and the Inland Revenue. Hence I do not trust anyone least of all the government with any data or data collection.

[expat]

Anyhoo, whats the big deal - you are already part of the Echelon programme, you know the one with the big golf balls at Menwith Hill http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/503224.stm

"It sounds like science fiction, but it's true."

Rather like the futuristic idea of TV cameras that can read car number plates and compute their average speed over a stretch of road.

If this is what they do to stop people driving at 60 past a couple of bollards, what will they have up their sleeve when they really want to spy on you?

[Stan.goodvibes]

Sorry for a minute there i got confused because I thought Jaqui Smith was one of the original Charlies Angels, but it was 'Jaclyn Smith'. My bad.

Anyhoo, whats the big deal - you are already part of the Echelon programme, you know the one with the big golf balls at Menwith Hill http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/503224.stm

And have you seen the 'privacy' statement for Facebook (or My Space or even Google)? Replace 'Facebook' with 'Big Brother' in the small print and check out where your details are going...

THEY know everything about you already

*fade out with x-files theme*

[Ruprect]

How about a nice big picture of a CCTV camera wrapped in tinsel.

That should go down a treat.

go on, I dare you!!!

Someone curling one off onto a CCTV camera would be more appropriate I think.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Jacqui Smith is one paranoid beeatch. I think she believes everything the Police tell her. The Police who are institutionally racist and prejudgeist. No wonder they use spying on a small group as a reason to spy on us all. And we just go ahead and say okay - well, except for that chakrabarti woman.

Smith also suffers from a crippling poverty of ambition - she thinks it's fine to advise people not to walk around their own capital alone at night and sees nothing wrong with that, nor does she show any apparent ambition to improve things.

[voodooflux]

How about a nice big picture of a CCTV camera wrapped in tinsel.

That should go down a treat.

go on, I dare you!!!

Excellent!

[Diver]

Database!

I think the money would be better invested in developing a mind probe.

We could all have weekly check-ups then, to ensure that we are all conforming.

[SantaClaus]

My son came home from school this afternoon with a "letter from Jacqui" (she's our MP) asking for submissions to her Christmas card competition. Any takers?

I suggested one of these.

How about a nice big picture of a CCTV camera wrapped in tinsel.

That should go down a treat.

go on, I dare you!!!

[lilelvis2000]

Jacqui Smith is one paranoid beeatch. I think she believes everything the Police tell her. The Police who are institutionally racist and prejudgeist. No wonder they use spying on a small group as a reason to spy on us all. And we just go ahead and say okay - well, except for that chakrabarti woman.

[HairyArsedBloke]

The name of the holiday is often shortened to Xmas because Roman letter "X" resembles the Greek letter of chi, an abbreviation for Christ.

Well, I never knew that. But why should I; I'm a Pagan and believe that they stole our Yule festival.