May 03, 2005

Big Brother Rundown

Jakester emailed me an article from This is London detailing how the Council in Westminster is going to start installing microphones on lamp posts outside houses to monitor noise levels:

“This could make a really big difference to cutting down on noise,” said Steve Harrison of Westminster Council.

“At the moment the problem is that by the time a noise protection officer arrives on the scene, the noise may have stopped.

“Using the new system, we can leave a monitor in an area for several days. The idea is that we can pre-empt people having to call us — if the monitor hears a disturbance it lets us know.” Mr Harrison added that the microphones were also going to be placed outside bars and clubs to monitor noise levels and any disturbances.

First cameras in public areas, then cameras with microphones in public areas, now microphones monitoring "noise" coming from private property. And what exactly is a "Noise Protection Officer?"

So, do you think that starting down the path of being a watched society is a good thing? Any arguments out there against the notion that simply installing a few cameras here and there is the start of a slippery slope?

Back to the States, we have a story sent to me by DocB...the eye in the sky is watching you:

The Charles County Sheriff's Office recently monitored a gathering of motorcycle riders by launching a remote-control aerial camera to watch for emergencies or troublemakers.

An official said yesterday the battery-powered spy plane was launched as a test run and that he's not sure whether the agency will buy the craft — but the results were good.

"I liked what I saw," said Lt. Chris Becker, the agency's commander of homeland security and intelligence.

Quick question: Why is the agency's commander on homeland security and intelligence monitoring a gathering of bikers?

Also, while I normally don't agree with many of the things the ACLU does, they tend to be the voice of reason when it comes to being watched by the government. The article also takes into account the ACLU's perspective (Miss Goering):

The concern is, obviously, a privacy issue, but also that the constitutional right to assemble is being chilled," Miss Goering said. "We are fast approaching the time when the government will be monitoring our every move."

She also said the issue is of special concern when citizens rally against the government.

"Dissent in this country is the lifeblood of democracy," Miss Goering said. "If someone is attending an event that's [anti-government], they should be able to do so without fear the government will retaliate in some manner."

No arguments here.

Finally, Glen sent me an article last week detailing how some colleges are standing up against the government's intrusion into students' privacy:

The U.S. Department of Education wants universities to provide personal information about every student in the country in order, they say, to produce more accurate and useful information about the school system. But critics are already lining up to prevent any proposal from going forward.

"While we recognize there are valid considerations, we are not interested in sacrificing student privacy rights for them," said Jasmine Harris, legislative director for the U.S. Student Association, which represents student governments at colleges and universities across the country.

Under current law, this is not allowed and it would require passage of a bill by Congress to allow the Dept. of Education to do this. I wonder if there are good reasons that laws exist to prohibit government agencies from doing this? Hmm.

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I'm watching the morning news, KDKA in Pittsburgh, and they just mentioned that "Big Brother will be watching soon in Trafford," which is a community near Pittsburgh. More video cameras to "watch for criminals."

Posted by: Mary at May 4, 2005 05:09 AM

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! And video cameras are next, no doubt, peering into our homes. Probably to monitor cases of child and spouse abuse or bad kitchen habits.

Good grief!

Posted by: Miss O'Hara at May 4, 2005 09:28 AM