George Orwell's 1984 has arrived in the USA and it is proving to be very expensive. "The FBI is embarking on a $1 billion project to build the world's largest computer database of biometrics to give the government more ways to identify people at home and abroad, the Washington Post reported on Friday. The FBI has already started compiling digital images of faces, fingerprints and palm patterns in its systems, the paper said. In January, the agency—which focuses on violations of federal law, espionage by foreigners and terrorist activities—expects to award a 10-year contract to expand the amount and kinds of biometric information it receives, it said. At an employer's request, the FBI will also retain the fingerprints of employees who have undergone criminal background checks, the paper said." (
PC Magazine, 26 December) RD
The UK is billed as "an endemic surveillance society" alongside Russia, the US, Singapore and China in the survey of 47 countries by Privacy International.
ReplyDeleteBritain is bottom in Europe because of its cameras (the country with the world's biggest network of surveillance cameras), ID card plans and lack of government accountability.
Immigration and border control concerns in 2007 have prompted countries to "implement database, identity and fingerprinting systems, often without regard to the privacy implications for their own citizens".
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2233519,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=19