Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Dystopia defined according to Greenie, Chris Hedges
BTC - Thanks to Mister.re for sending this one over from Truth Dig's Chris Hedges. You may or may not buy into the economic direction of the piece, but I think it still has some really great articulations about the Orwell : Huxley problem of losing our privacy and information liberties.
2011: A Brave New Dystopia
2011: A Brave New Dystopia
"Orwell warned of a world where books were banned. Huxley warned of a world where no one wanted to read books. Orwell warned of a state of permanent war and fear. Huxley warned of a culture diverted by mindless pleasure. Orwell warned of a state where every conversation and thought was monitored and dissent was brutally punished. Huxley warned of a state where a population, preoccupied by trivia and gossip, no longer cared about truth or information. Orwell saw us frightened into submission. Huxley saw us seduced into submission. But Huxley, we are discovering, was merely the prelude to Orwell. Huxley understood the process by which we would be complicit in our own enslavement. Orwell understood the enslavement."::: MORE HERE:::
Social Networking a ~slight~ challenge to Government authority
Government bodies see "revolting" citizens
BTC - Facebook, MeetUp and other online groups have proven their worth as a tool for activists and organizers. While some may doubt their tweets, e-mail and calls-to-action online may have little effect on government, you should watch the following video titled, The State of the Social Net: A Catalyst for Civil and Political Revolt
Here's a really balanced article higlighting the fears and concerns of government in the age of Social Networking by Clay Shirky. It's not a fix-it article but it's intention is to keep government from flipping over their own boats.
The Political Power of Social Media
Technology, the Public Sphere, and Political Change
BTC - Facebook, MeetUp and other online groups have proven their worth as a tool for activists and organizers. While some may doubt their tweets, e-mail and calls-to-action online may have little effect on government, you should watch the following video titled, The State of the Social Net: A Catalyst for Civil and Political Revolt
Here's a really balanced article higlighting the fears and concerns of government in the age of Social Networking by Clay Shirky. It's not a fix-it article but it's intention is to keep government from flipping over their own boats.
The Political Power of Social Media
Technology, the Public Sphere, and Political Change
2011 State of the Net Conference, Video Recap
c/o InternetCaucusAC
VIEW ALL VIDEO HERE
The 7th annual State of the Net conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill on January 18-19, 2011. Attracting over 500 attendees annually, the State of the Net Conference provides unparalleled opportunities to network and engage on key policy issues. The State of the Net Conference is the largest information technology policy conference in the U.S. and the only one with over 50 percent Congressional staff and government policymakers in attendance. The State of the Net Conference is the only tech policy conference routinely recognized for its balanced blend of academics, consumer groups, industry and government. Over 50% of annual attendees government policy staff.
VIEW ALL VIDEO HERE
The 7th annual State of the Net conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill on January 18-19, 2011. Attracting over 500 attendees annually, the State of the Net Conference provides unparalleled opportunities to network and engage on key policy issues. The State of the Net Conference is the largest information technology policy conference in the U.S. and the only one with over 50 percent Congressional staff and government policymakers in attendance. The State of the Net Conference is the only tech policy conference routinely recognized for its balanced blend of academics, consumer groups, industry and government. Over 50% of annual attendees government policy staff.
CNET: GOP pushing for ISPs to record user data
A House panel chaired by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow morning to discuss forcing Internet providers, and perhaps Web companies as well, to store records of their users' activities for later review by police.:::MORE HERE:::
REDUX: Weekend Review
BTC - Corporations... Government data surveillance; same difference. They both do it.
Here is second life for news that matters.
Mexico starts to use iris scans on ID cards
A National ID Card for Every American c/o Fellowship of The Minds
Trial Begins For Seattle Man Who Refused To Show ID At TSA Checkpoint In Albuquerque
Governor gives voter ID bill emergency status in legislative session
U.S. Cancels "Virtual Fence" with Mexico
USCIS e-Verify still flags eligible employees, says GAO
RE: Corporate Data Surveillance, Watch what you say and text
DIY Government: FTC Comment period on *PRIVACY PRACTICES* extended until 2-18-2011
OTHER RELATED NEWS:
Black Budget in the Red
Facebook suspends personal data-sharing feature
The Companies Who Support Censoring the Internet
How Big Brother is watching you from Israel
FILMS TO GO SEE:
Operation Endgame - Illuminates bureaucracy, comedic lunacy of the underground US Intelligence complex; straight to DVD, comes *highly recommended* for entertainment's sake.
Smash His Camera - Classic rivalry of privacy in the face of public living. Example here.
Here is second life for news that matters.
Mexico starts to use iris scans on ID cards
A National ID Card for Every American c/o Fellowship of The Minds
"In 1998 the Clinton Administration tested such a privately-funded card without the consent or knowledge of Congress. Their card was part of a special healthcare program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program was initated in five western States and entailed giving women with dependent children free healthcare in the pilot project that actually tested the effectiveness of the biometric cards, which electronically monitored the whereabouts of the cardholder 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by GPS. The test lasted one year. It was deemed to be a success. Our federal government does have the ability, and the desire, to track the whereabouts of its human capital while they work, when they play, and where they sleep. REAL ID, in other words, is REAL Intrusive."
Trial Begins For Seattle Man Who Refused To Show ID At TSA Checkpoint In Albuquerque
Governor gives voter ID bill emergency status in legislative session
U.S. Cancels "Virtual Fence" with Mexico
USCIS e-Verify still flags eligible employees, says GAO
RE: Corporate Data Surveillance, Watch what you say and text
DIY Government: FTC Comment period on *PRIVACY PRACTICES* extended until 2-18-2011
OTHER RELATED NEWS:
Black Budget in the Red
Facebook suspends personal data-sharing feature
The Companies Who Support Censoring the Internet
How Big Brother is watching you from Israel
FILMS TO GO SEE:
Operation Endgame - Illuminates bureaucracy, comedic lunacy of the underground US Intelligence complex; straight to DVD, comes *highly recommended* for entertainment's sake.
Smash His Camera - Classic rivalry of privacy in the face of public living. Example here.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
No2ID: New Public Data Corporation, Scotland's Entitlement Cards continue
c/o No2ID UK --The Cabinet Office has outlined plans for a new Public Data Corporation which the government intends to set up this year. The Cabinet Office press release states:
SCOTLAND'S BACK-DOOR ID CARD BATTLE
Among the most dedicated opponents of the Blair government's Identity Cards Act were the SNP. However, as the government of Scotland they seem to have other ideas, as Geraint Bevan, coordinator of NO2ID Scotland, explains:
UK ID cards are no longer valid, but National Entitlement Cards (ID cards by another name) continue to be issued in Scotland. These multi-purpose cards, which masquerade under a wide range of guises including concessionary travel and YoungScot cards, are issued by local authorities and provide access to various services.
According to ministers, the cards are voluntary and alternative means of accessing services should be made available, except for concessionary travel. In practice, many schoolchildren have been told that they *must* apply for a card to buy school meals - or even to enter school premises.
Each card is linked to a "Citizens Account" unless card-holders explicitly reject data-sharing on the application form. Citizens Accounts are records of personal information stored on a network of databases operated by Scotland's 32 local authorities.
Even when not linked to a Citizens Account, the cards are privacy deficient. For example, when used as a bus pass, personal information about the card-holder is transmitted to the bus operator and details of the passenger and journey are recorded and logged on central government
databases.
The scheme was introduced under the previous Labour/Lib Dem coalition, but has continued under the current SNP administration.
Related news: TrackCare, A new Patient Management System for Scotland goes live.
IN OTHER NEWS:
ID Card Report Was Supressed
The publication of a report which raised concerns about the ID-scheme was delayed - leading to the suggestion that it was suppressed in the run up to the general election. The report by the Independent Scheme Assurance Panel (ISAP) was given to the Home Office in late 2009, but
only published this month. A February 2010 response to the ISAP report has also been released.
NHS (National Health System)review includes Opt-Out forms
The Summary Care Record system will make medical information about tens of millions of patients in England available to over 800,000 NHS staff. Patients have a right to opt out of having a Record. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised to scrap Summary Care Records before they took power.
A judgement by the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was illegal for the Government to keep the DNA details of those arrested - but not convicted - for an offence.
EU/US: Transatlantic eHealth agreement signed 01-17-02011--Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes and United States Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington to promote a common approach on the interoperability of electronic health records and on education programmes for information technology and health professionals. [The US healthcare bill was repealed two days later.]
Border Agency plans £36.4m biometric collection contract
Destruction of ID card data to cost £400,000
"The Corporation will, for the first time, bring together Government bodies and data into one organisation and provide an unprecedented level of easily accessible public information and drive further efficiency in the delivery of public services."Little detailed information is available at this time.
SCOTLAND'S BACK-DOOR ID CARD BATTLE
Among the most dedicated opponents of the Blair government's Identity Cards Act were the SNP. However, as the government of Scotland they seem to have other ideas, as Geraint Bevan, coordinator of NO2ID Scotland, explains:
UK ID cards are no longer valid, but National Entitlement Cards (ID cards by another name) continue to be issued in Scotland. These multi-purpose cards, which masquerade under a wide range of guises including concessionary travel and YoungScot cards, are issued by local authorities and provide access to various services.
According to ministers, the cards are voluntary and alternative means of accessing services should be made available, except for concessionary travel. In practice, many schoolchildren have been told that they *must* apply for a card to buy school meals - or even to enter school premises.
Each card is linked to a "Citizens Account" unless card-holders explicitly reject data-sharing on the application form. Citizens Accounts are records of personal information stored on a network of databases operated by Scotland's 32 local authorities.
Even when not linked to a Citizens Account, the cards are privacy deficient. For example, when used as a bus pass, personal information about the card-holder is transmitted to the bus operator and details of the passenger and journey are recorded and logged on central government
databases.
The scheme was introduced under the previous Labour/Lib Dem coalition, but has continued under the current SNP administration.
Related news: TrackCare, A new Patient Management System for Scotland goes live.
IN OTHER NEWS:
ID Card Report Was Supressed
The publication of a report which raised concerns about the ID-scheme was delayed - leading to the suggestion that it was suppressed in the run up to the general election. The report by the Independent Scheme Assurance Panel (ISAP) was given to the Home Office in late 2009, but
only published this month. A February 2010 response to the ISAP report has also been released.
NHS (National Health System)review includes Opt-Out forms
The Summary Care Record system will make medical information about tens of millions of patients in England available to over 800,000 NHS staff. Patients have a right to opt out of having a Record. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised to scrap Summary Care Records before they took power.
A judgement by the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was illegal for the Government to keep the DNA details of those arrested - but not convicted - for an offence.
EU/US: Transatlantic eHealth agreement signed 01-17-02011--Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes and United States Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington to promote a common approach on the interoperability of electronic health records and on education programmes for information technology and health professionals. [The US healthcare bill was repealed two days later.]
Border Agency plans £36.4m biometric collection contract
Destruction of ID card data to cost £400,000
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