British the Most Spied-On People in Western World

[Lemur]

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- what's with you wacky Brits? How did you lose all of your "ancient liberties"? Wha'happen?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

British the most spied-on people in western world

Lois Rogers

BRITISH people are now more spied upon by their political leaders than any other population in the free world, according to an official report.

The linkage of databases and surveillance systems mean people are now having their movements tracked, habits profiled and photograph taken hundreds of times a day. The findings, in a report compiled on behalf of Richard Thomas, the information commissioner, raised concerns that Britain is “waking up in a surveillance society”.

Thomas said: “Many of these schemes are public sector driven, and the individual has no choice over whether or not to take part. People are being scrutinised and having their lives tracked, and are not even aware of it.

“They don’t know, for instance, that a record is kept of every internet site they visit. They don’t realise that when identity cards come in, there will be a record of their movements and every time they have engaged with any public service.”

He also revealed that his office is investigating allegations of lax security at the Post Office, HSBC, NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The banks may face unlimited fines over claims that they dumped sensitive details of customers’ accounts on the streets.

The report, compiled by surveillance experts and academics, points out that a typical Briton will be caught on camera up to 300 times a day. Britain now has 4.2m public CCTV cameras, or one for every 14 people, more than any other country.

Other examples of surveillance highlighted by the report include the growing use of automatic number plate recognition to track people’s journeys and the long-term retention of logs detailing the websites people visit at home.

“It’s not just unwarranted intrusions into privacy, it’s also the dangers of inaccurate information, of mistakes being made, of information being held for too long,” Thomas said. He cited an example of a schoolgirl whose playground banter resulted in her father being refused work because he had been classed as a suspected paedophile. “The little girl was overheard saying, ‘My dad bonked me last night’. A dinner lady heard this and reported it to the school authorities,” Thomas said. Social services discovered that the girl was referring to her father tapping her playfully on the head with an inflatable hammer. The file was closed, but five years later the father discovered he was still a suspected sex offender.

[CrossLOPER]

I think everyone should be a suspected sex offender.

[Blodrast]

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Wha'happen?

Somebody set them up the bomb!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

We've told you before. We're subjects, not citizens.

If HM Government wants they can evict everyone in the Esat End and build Tony a Castle.

We have no rights and no constitution.

[Orb]

This isn't good at all.

My user title is definitely changing.

[lancelot]

I do despair over the state of the country sometimes...the 'Great' has definitely been taken out of Great Britain...

Even the most basic of homes are fast becoming ludicrously expensive...the average age of a first time buyer is now in the 30s IIRC!!!???!!! Buying (and even renting a place in some cases) on your own is now not far short of impossible.

NHS is a joke in many areas. You have to make an appointment at least a week in advance to see a GP.

Especially near/in London it costs a fortune to move around. Worse still, every year fares go up without no discernable improvement in facilities. London motorists are quite unfairly made to contribute to this fund in addition to a annual road tax...

Immigration control is a soft touch (the words of an immigration dept employee, no less)

We have a 'Labour' government that has so far tried to ban protests within 100 yards of Parliament, banned protest outside of a conference under the guise of 'public safety', students fees are skyrocketing at each review of education costs (despite the government who enacted this change had the benefit of free education if needed) and pretty much instituted a charge/fare/tax to attempt to solve every problem it faces.

In short...

[BDC]

On the plus side there is just so much spying going on you'll probably be lost in the insane mass of information. Can't see the wood for the trees etc.

Hopefully we'll get a competant government sooner or later too! You can but hope.

[rory_20_uk]

The density of our population does assist with data gathering. Although as has been said, so what, there's data. Who's doing what with it?

We are Great Britain as opposed to Brittany.

Immigration may mean it's easy to get in, but the rules are draconian against those that are merely working and not in the EU. Nurses are now not having contracts renewed, and will be deported unless they've been here 5 years (a new law increased it from 4, and was then postdated... nice).

[CrossLOPER]

Somebody set them up the bomb!

All your base are belong to us.

[Xiahou]

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- what's with you wacky Brits? How did you lose all of your "ancient liberties"? Wha'happen?

Why do you hate freedom?

[Incongruous]

It's times like these that we remeber the Gloriuos Revolution, so gloriuos in-fact that most of the population has been conned into a conpletley perverse system of government. It's times like these that the word Republic and
C(r)ommonwealth spring to mind.

hehe, my little nod to history.

[King Ragnar]

I blame muslims ( the ones that want to blow us up of course the ones that hold up sign saying kill the pope are fine)

[professorspatula]

Britain may 4.2 million CCTV cameras, but from what I've seen whilst watching Crimewatch UK, only about 4 of them are capable of capturing anything more than an indistinctive fuzzy moving blob. The average criminal's face seems to consist of nothing more than about 6 pixels.

[Vladimir]

I blame muslims ( the ones that want to blow us up of course the ones that hold up sign saying kill the pope are fine)

Weren't so many of those cameras in London installed to catch people driving who hadn't properly paid their taxes? The "Muslim problem" has only recently come to light and can't possibly account for such a large domestic surveillance system.

How come no one talks about MI5?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Gah, I think Ragnar's a bit off the deep end.

I think Britain is very useful- as an example of what a country should not do.

CR

[BDC]

Gah, I think Ragnar's a bit off the deep end.

I think Britain is very useful- as an example of what a country should not do.

CR

It's not that bad. Seriously.

Now, our crappy current government, they are a good example of what to avoid.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Well, not yet. But they continue to delve fearlessly into some kind of Orwellian police state. Hopefully this could be solved with a change of the government.

CR

[MSB]

I am starting to think that the Labour government is secretly communist! It's strange that they have managed to stay in power so long with Tony Blair at it's head. The words "corrupt voting system" suddenly to mind...

This was a joke!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

No, the phrase you are actually looking for is "apathetic non-voters."

Labour was electedby 18% of the general populace. That is why I'm in favour of compolsory voting.

[lancelot]

I am starting to think that the Labour government is secretly communist! It's strange that they have managed to stay in power so long with Tony Blair at it's head. The words "corrupt voting system" suddenly to mind...

Considering clause 4 left the manifesto of the Labour Party faster than some bullets leave guns, Communist is hardly a word Id choose to describe our beloved Furher Tory...sorry - Tony...

No, the phrase you are actually looking for is "apathetic non-voters."

Labour was electedby 18% of the general populace. That is why I'm in favour of compolsory voting.

Id put it down to the voting system regarding the last election. If 'first past the post' had been booted out the Torys would be in. (although ironically enough the Torys have probably been the staunchest supporters of this voting system)

[Xiahou]

No, the phrase you are actually looking for is "apathetic non-voters."

Labour was electedby 18% of the general populace. That is why I'm in favour of compolsory voting.

That's never a good solution. All that gets you is a big flock of uninformed voters that either vote randomly or by some ridiculous criteria such as who's prettier or who has a nicer name, ect.

Worse still, these new mandatory voters would dillute the voting power of those who actually care enough to follow the issues and come out to vote of their own free will. I'll never be in favor of any sort of mandatory voting- if someone can't be bothered to come out and exercise their voting power, we're better off without them.

[BDC]

New Labour aren't communists. Look at how much the divide between the rich and poor has grown in the last few years. It's just horrific.

[Scurvy]

That's never a good solution. All that gets you is a big flock of uninformed voters that either vote randomly or by some ridiculous criteria such as who's prettier or who has a nicer name, ect.

wow, you mean im not supposed to vote for the candidate with the nicest voice? (actually i can't vote, but meh)

I agree that compulsory voting is a bad idea, but maybe a public holiday on the day of election would encourage voters

[King Ragnar]

Gah, I think Ragnar's a bit off the deep end.

I think Britain is very useful- as an example of what a country should not do.

CR

What is this deep end you speak off?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Ragnar:

New Labour aren't communists. Look at how much the divide between the rich and poor has grown in the last few years. It's just horrific.

And what happened in the USSR? What was the gap there between politburo and peasant?

Crazed Rabbit

[Papewaio]

That's never a good solution. All that gets you is a big flock of uninformed voters that either vote randomly or by some ridiculous criteria such as who's prettier or who has a nicer name, ect.

Worse still, these new mandatory voters would dillute the voting power of those who actually care enough to follow the issues and come out to vote of their own free will. I'll never be in favor of any sort of mandatory voting- if someone can't be bothered to come out and exercise their voting power, we're better off without them.

Or because they have to turn up or face a fine they will bother to do some research and make a contribution. It also stops employers blocking employees from voting too. Of course once they turn up they can either not vote, do a donkey vote, or actually vote properly as they so choose.

Just look at the wonderful coalition of the willing.

Torture and total lack of rights for non-citizens, welling to relocate the Berlin Wall and put it along the southern border (I bet they would have out the wall along California too if they could get away with it).
Most spied upon western country in the world.
And the third has compulsory voting and one of the largest kick backs to Saddam Hussein.

And those three are supposed to be the "good guys"

[Crazed Rabbit]

Trying to actually make a secure border is setting up another 'Berlin Wall'?! That's cheap and out of character Pape, as is your gross implification and misstatement of 'torture and no rights for non-citizens'.

A cursory examination shows the Berlin wall was built to keep people in, any walls on our souther border are to keep people out.

None of that has anything to do with the topic.

CR

[Papewaio]

It is the USA that is making laws to allow torture on non-US citizens. Check.
It is the USA that wishes to build a wall between itself and Mexico to stop illegal immigration. The only difference with the Berlin Wall is the direction of flow, one was to keep peope in, while the new one is to keep people out. "Give us your poor..." is no longer a true statement and "Truth, Justice and the American Way" is no longer a superflous statement.

Britain as mentioned by the article is the most spied upon people by their own government. That may not be totally true, they are the most spied upon that their government tells them that they are doing so, other governments may be a bit more carnivorous I mean cautious in declaring how much they follow their citizens.

Australia has compulsory voting (which some think is an assualt on the right to say no) and is responsible for one of the biggest oil for food kickbacks to Saddam Hussein. Add to it the reputation of being very harsh on people who try and enter Australia via sea illegally (those who land by air and overstay don't have the SAS knocking down their doors) and other relatively harsh measures.

So in short these 3 don't look like beacons of justice, truth and fairplay.
All 3 of them are guilty of using fear to push through laws that reduce liberty for increased security. All 3 are failing to uphold what their forefathers achieved.

“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

[Crazed Rabbit]

It is the USA that is making laws to allow torture on non-US citizens. Check.

Perhaps you need to read the actual law.

It is the USA that wishes to build a wall between itself and Mexico to stop illegal immigration. The only difference with the Berlin Wall is the direction of flow, one was to keep peope in, while the new one is to keep people out. "Give us your poor..." is no longer a true statement and "Truth, Justice and the American Way" is no longer a superflous statement.

"Give us your poor was never an official policy and we've always had limits on immigration. And yes, a wall to protect your country has no relation whatsoever to a wall designed to keep people in. What site did you get your 'is no longer a superflous statement' bit from?

Australia has compulsory voting (which some think is an assualt on the right to say no) and is responsible for one of the biggest oil for food kickbacks to Saddam Hussein. Add to it the reputation of being very harsh on people who try and enter Australia via sea illegally (those who land by air and overstay don't have the SAS knocking down their doors) and other relatively harsh measures.

A second ago you were supporting compulsory voting.

Get a grip Pape. No country is perfect, but you probably listed some of the best countries in the world right there. A few flaws do not make us evil; they do not remove us from being good and right, they do not force a passive acceptance of morale neutrality between us and our enemies, nor do they make our enemies better.

Compared to the other countries of the world, the USA is a beacon.

Crazed Rabbit

[CrossLOPER]

"Give us your poor..." is no longer a true statement

Sorry Pape, have to hit you here.

The poor are welcome, but they must give back as much as they recieve. Paying dues would be a start.