Operation Big List - helping to fight terror

[pubmanager]

Today the government announces its plans to monitor the passenger information from all internal flights in the UK, as part of the project Let's-Gather-All-the-Information-in-the-Free-World-Into-One-Big-List-That-Somewhere-Will- Contain-Within-It-the-Names-and-Addresses-of-All-Those-Nasty-Terrorist-Fellows. The new legislation is slightly more depressing than a few credit card statements landing on the mat, ushering in as it does an age of routine surveillance of the populace that is unparalleled (so far - though who knows what sort of unspeakable lust Bush will conceive for the policy once someone's broken down the main points into sock puppet theatre for him) among democratic countries. It will allow the police to access the online details of passengers, and on routes that are considered to pose a particular risk of transporting terrorists around the isle, they will be able to demand that the airline provide "bulk data" - every detail of every passenger and crew member - before departure. On the upside, says the government, this will enable them to build a profile of al-Qaida's travelling habits and check names against a watchlist of serious criminals. On the downside, say detractors, it won't. Many criminals think nothing of giving fake details to British Airways or even learning to drive to escape detection. It is possible that once the checking in time increases to accommodate the new data collection requirements, recidivists will hand themselves in to airport security just to get a sit down, but it's hardly the stuff that foolproof anti-terrorist measures are made of. Still, life is short, and as our elected leaders are clearly intent on compiling an uber-dossier on the populace, perhaps we should just acquiesce. Nipping down to the shops? Give Millbank a call and inform them of your proposed route and whether your aim is to buy a pint of semi-skimmed or to overthrow the government. Popping to the bank? Don't leave the house before you've furnished the Treasury with details of the intended transaction, a retinal scan and whether you'll be going for 10s or 20s. Follow it up with an email or two. Or 10. They really want to know. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go and send a blood sample, affidavit and certified passport copy to the House of Commons.[/b]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists...694181,00.html

This tickled me yesterday so I thought I'd share.

The more I thought about it, the more it sounded like a good idea! Reverse psychology may be the way to go.

I know I am not alone at volconvo in thinking that the progressive creep of the government into surveilling and monitoring it's supposedly free citizens should be of grave concern to all who value freedom and liberty.

But as the author says, life is short, so let's recognise the fact our governments have an unstoppable desire for information and an unswerving conviction that this is the best way to fight terrorism.

As good citizens and patriots we should all do everything we can to aid our governments and intelligence agencies in their well-intentioned efforts to keep us safe.

I for one will now be sumbitting my diary to MI6 on a daily basis and following this up with hourly updates specifying exact movements and my rationale and reason for being in any given place. I will also be recording all my conversations which I shall then pass on to the secret service each week along with copies of all my e-mails and my weekly DNA sample.

People of the free world unite. Make one big fuck-off list of all the information in the world. Help defeat terror once and for all.

[Nono]

Quote by: Lucy Mangan (...) the project Let's-Gather-All-the-Information-in-the-Free-World-Into-One-Big-List-That-Somewhere-Will-Contain-Within-It-the-Names-and-Addresses-of-All-Those-Nasty-Terrorist-Fellows (...)

I'm grateful to her for abbreviating the official name.

[SteveA]

Truly it might almost be naive to believe they aren't already keeping tabs on many things and if not government, then private agencies. I don't like it either but it might be worth assuming things will head this direction, then consider what impacts that has. Alternately, denying such undeserved or intrusive methods from affecting legal processes could be a good idea. (For example, in the U.S. we toss out illegally acquired evidence)

Quote by: Pubmanager The more I thought about it, the more it sounded like a good idea! Reverse psychology may be the way to go.

I must admit that sounds like fun :)