Via TNL, this competition. I don’t normally bother with competitions or memes, but this one is of interest, so here goes…
The Surveillance State
In the wake of the Twin Towers attacks in 2001, we saw perhaps the first overt manifestation of the desire by government to monitor us using technology. David Blunkett’s entitlement card come identity card typified the underlying mistrust of the political class for the citizen. Despite a backlash that started small and gradually built momentum, politicians clung to this monstrosity to the bitter end. Only now, having faced defeat at the polls and a dismantling of the system are Labour politicians daring to agree that this scheme was a step too far.
In the case of the ID cards, the desire for monitoring and the technology available were mismatched. This however did not stop the onward march of technological solutions to non-existent problems, nor the increasing assumption of guilt in preference to innocence. The ubiquitous CCTV produces poor quality images and has failed to deliver the much trumpeted reduction in crime nor have they proved over useful in subsequent investigation and conviction. Yet, still, they watch where we go. Yet still, APNR is used to track our journeys by vehicle. Technology, neutral in itself is used as a tool to monitor the minutiae of our lives.
And, it is not just the state that seeks to track us. Signed up for a store loyalty card? It is not your loyalty they want, it is access to your spending habits for the purposes of marketing – including selling that data on to their “partners”. And of late, it has become customary to ask for personal details when taking payment for our purchases.
In his essay, TNL refers to democracy – or, more specifically the attitude that democracy is an end in and of itself. Fair point. One with which I agree. But, I don’t recall voting for my life to be an open book. I don’t recall being asked if it is okay to track my journeys, whether on foot or by vehicle. I don’t recall agreeing to every intimate part of my life being demanded from me under the threat of prosecution should I refuse to comply with the most intrusive census yet conducted. While the NIR and Contact-point are, fortunately, being scrapped the new government is clinging to the Census, despite their apparent censure when in opposition.
The state and its partners in crime have created behemoth databases that must be filled, no matter how trivial or sensitive the information. My life – and yours – is none of their business and we need to start learning to say “no” and mean it. Being free includes the right to walk the streets anonymously should we so wish and having something to hide is not an indication of criminal intent.
This post is an entry in the blog contest responding to the new book, New Threats to Freedom edited by Adam Bellow. The contest is open to all and further information can be found here
If you voted…. then you agreed. Next time read the small print.
The last time I voted was in 2005 and I voted against the party bringing in these measures. So, no, I did not vote for this.
And, it is not just the state that seeks to track us. Signed up for a store loyalty card? It is not your loyalty they want, it is access to your spending habits for the purposes of marketing – including selling that data on to their “partners”.
Which is why I refuse to get the Tesco card and why they continue to badger me about it.