/loves to speak
//loves to be spoken to

Were only making plans for nigel
We only want whats best for him
Were only making plans for nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young nigel says hes happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work

fiset35: /loves to speak
//loves to be spoken to

Curses! Foiled again!

That's some damn fine security work there, Nigel


It's such a fine line between clever and stupid.

What's wrong with this? Scanners aren't worth anything without thing being scanned as much as the other way around. Get people the IDs first, then institute the scanners.

Funny... I read that as "fecal" details...

Hullo?

I'm sure the anti-christ has already got the scanners ready for roll out closer to the end times. He's been getting ready for this for a long time now.

fark you jacqui smith. authoritarian biatch.

Seems like an excellent time to plug an old wave station:

Link (new window)

Well, typically you institute these things as they become available. That way, when the scanners are produced, they have cards to scan.

With that said, this is kinda creepy. I wouldn't go so far to call it a violation of human rights or an affront to privacy, but it's still creepy.

Only_A_Lad: I wouldn't go so far to call it a violation of human rights or an affront to privacy, but it's still creepy.

I call it all of the above, myself.

saintstryfe: What's wrong with this? Scanners aren't worth anything without thing being scanned as much as the other way around. Get people the IDs first, then institute the scanners.

That's how we did it in Floriduh, so it must be wrong.

/Issued DL's with bar codes and magnetic stripes on them first, then started issuing the hardware to schools and such to be able to scan them to check the holders against various criminal registries, etc.

Why would you roll out scanners, which are going to be far more expensive, and prone to getting broken/lost as they sit around waiting for ID's to be issued before you actually issue the IDs?

When they issued the fancy new drivers licenses here, it was a good year or so before you started seeing bars and cops and stuff with the scanners.

/oblig.

What is the point of Biometric Identification?

When my generation gets into the work force, we'll be making cybernetic parts.
/the future sounds SO cool
//still, it's kinda creepy

BRILLIANT!

Sorry we can't just scan your face or retina or fingerprint. First you have to put all that information on a card, then we have to scan the card.

Diggin: What is the point of Biometric Identification?

Facial biometrics will be used with CCTV cameras to identify people walking down the street. It's not science fiction anymore. I'm honestly surprised that they don't ask for DNA samples, but then again, everyone who has been arrested over the last 5 years has had to give a DNA sample which is kept in permanent storage, regardless of whether you're guilty of anything.

Then you have the number-plate readers set up along every motorway in Britain that log your cars location and store it on a computer, so the government can track everywhere you drive.

Ultimately, and probably within a few years, there will be a single database from which the government can monitor every possible electronically recordable information. Where you are, what you buy, who you talk to, what you read online or at the library, etc etc. None of this information is confidential to the government. Privacy will be a thing of the past.

Good citizens who don't think too much will be greenlit as easily as Daily Mail articles on fark. People interested in politics will be more closely monitored, and those who express radical opinions that the government don't like will probably find it harder to participate in the cashless digital society. Constant harrassment and intimidation by the behavioural correction force will be necessary for repeat offenders, and freedom of speech will be slowly curtailed.

And if you think that's unlikely, then perhaps you should look at the world before 9/11. And any Americans who think this won't happen over there, enjoy your extra 12 months or so of 'freedom' before the British sell the technology to the US.

It won't be much comfort for me to say 'I told you so'.

Does anyone know the origin of the original quote: "That's some fine police work there, Lou."?

The googles, she do nothing. I bet it's some 1940's radio show, or something.

sezzme: Does anyone know the origin of the original quote: "That's some fine police work there, Lou."?

The googles, she do nothing. I bet it's some 1940's radio show, or something.

For a hint, see the picture in x_kansas_x post above.

malle-herbert: Funny... I read that as "fecal" details...

Good. So I'm not the only one.

These fascists wont be happy until there's a camera in every room of every house.

A good way to screw them over with these and comparable (i.e. REAL ID) cards is to throw them in the microwave for about 5 seconds. It totally screws the cards biometric data up. Fark 'em. They want to try to track you more, they're going to have to work for it. Everyone who gets one of these should do the same.

Now that's some good, wholesome civil disobedience.

You know what's really "funny" about this - it's being introduced by a Labour government - traditionally the party of people's rights, opposed to war etc.

"Oh I dont see any harm in it, they wouldnt use the information of where I am and what I am doing against me, or for any unsavory purpose. If you arent doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about, right? If they really want to know where I am shopping, what food I like to eat, and what shows I watch, well they can have it. Lord knows nobody has picked up a book since the internet came out, and who has time when there are so many awesome shows on TV? Stop being paranoid."

Yeah that is exactly how they want you to think. If the VA or state forces me to have one of those, it will find its way into the nuke so often they just give up giving them to me. The problem is what happens when that is your only means to get food or buy things you cant make?

Its already happened here. The Transportation Worker Identification Card, a biometric card used for anyone who needs access to a transportation hub such as a terminal, airport or marine facility, is now required. So everyone had to fork over $140 to lockheed-martin for these cards and a background check. I have yet to see a scanner or swiper. Probably never will.

but has some slothly gov employee left all the ID info on a seat in the tube yet?