Replies

These articles come around at various times while the technology rolls on, slowly.

It is not the fact that someone is watching, as in the old analogue video or closed-circuit systems, but that fact that the data can be collected, analyzed and retrieved cost-effectivly. You would have to be a criminal the size of OBL before the authorities are going to be looking at every videotape in the country just for your face.

The key to DDR-level surveillance is digital data. The basics are available in most countries but until recently were not computerized. Many of them can only be accessed by the agency concerned and there is little cross-checking but more all the time.

In addition to:

+ IRS, drivers license, vehicle registration, social security and passport.

+ Public Transport seasons tickets & road tolls

+ Bank account and credit card

There is:

+ Mobile Telephones:

GSM networks have a record of all your calls, and the whereabouts of your telephone whereever it is to some tens of meters. Depending on the country, the operators are required to keep these records and make them available for police inspection. Various countries required identification before purchase of a mobile telephone account (Germany, Italy). Some do not (Austria, England). These records already feature in various criminal convictions and some convictions hinged entirely on these records. Several countries listen-in to SMS traffic and have it scanned.

To deal with this, purchase one telephone to use and leave the other on your desk or at your home or whatever. Use one number for your own use and the other number for official. The records of the 'official' number tells them nothing. Pagers cannot be tracked and if you are giving your number to the authorities (say in the case you are a witness to a road accident or whatever) then give out this number. Use this number as a matter of course when anyone asks you for a number.

+ Police Registration Monitoring Cameras:

Various countries have police operated roadside registration plate monitoring cameras. Some even operate mobiles cameras coupled with road blocks. There are also plenty of digital speed cameras and GATSOs around.

+ Internet traffic

Various police forces are attempting to lean on ISPs to retains records of all traffic. It is likely SMTP traffic in and out of CONUS is scanned for various patterns by the
CIA/FBI.

+ Voice traffic

In the digital world, voice traffic (especially satellite telephones) is probably scanned by computer in addition to specific calls from specific regions monitored by personnel.

+ List purchase

List purchase is big business. Every time you complete a commercial transaction using your details, that list can be resold to someone. Supposedly, various police forces purchase lists in addition to junkmail generators. I rate this as 'rumor' but act as if it were true.

To an extent, you can deal with this by always giving a false name when ordering Pizza & similar activities.

+ RFID identification:

This threat is pending. RFID chips will replace bar-codes. RFID readers can be placed anywhere. It would not take much to build a system which at point-of-sale can imprint the RFID in your bluejeans with the card details you used to purchase it. Then the state will be able to track you via your bluejeans. With cash transactions, this would not work.

+ GSM insurance black box

Various insurers are offering in-car black-box insurance which is offered more cheaply to those who undertake not to exceed the speed-limit.

+ Satellite-based road toll charging instead of yearly flat rate tax.

Only at the planning stage in various countries. 1984 come true. Erich Honecker's dream finally realized.

In summary, integration of systems and jurisdictions is slow, but it is coming. The EU has just introduced cross-border enforcement of parking fines and speeding fines. The security offered by anonymity is dissappearing. Once 'they' can track all that from a terminal, it's worse than 1984.

You may not think you have much to worry about if you drive a '58 Ford Pickup back to your ranchhouse in Wyoming, but the fact that you are reading this means that a couple of the paragraphs above already apply to you.

There are a few examples of how useful it would be to state apparatus. For instance, firearm registration: So you're not going to register ? Your police force could check GSM records, road tax satellite records and see who spends time at the range.

[knock-knock] "Hello officer. How can I help you ?"

"We were wondering if you would like to register any of your guns ?"

"I don't have any guns"

"Really ? You seem to spend a lot of time at the range for someone who does not have any guns ..."