Did anyone see the Click programme on the BBC at lunchtime today?
It gave a frightening overview of how facial recognition cameras are being used by the police, clubs, stores and almost anyone else who thinks it is a good idea.
These networks are then sharing information.
I find it totally frightening and it makes me realise how lucky we are not to be spied on to the extent that they do in UK.
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And even the simplest Google search will show that these cameras are all over France as well. To combat terrorism to start with. Just because you havenāt seen a French TV programme about them-doesnāt mean theyāre not being used-especially in large cities- just as they are in the UK.
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Thank God, people arenāt on the internet, drive cars, have sat navs, have credit cards or cheques, store cards, or have mobile telephones. If not our daily / life movements would be tracked & easily traceable. Ouf!
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These days I find that I hardly recognise the face in the mirror that Iām shaving each morning, so perhaps I should get one of these cameras ?
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Not entirely sure what the issue is hereā¦
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Only civil liberties.
Many would say that if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear.
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Many would, but I find that a rather naive point of view.
It is the slippery path.
Thank goodness I avoid cities and large towns.
I donāt have a smartphone either or in car satnav.
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You think thatās bad Jane, try working for someone who installed cameras in his house here so he could check when we there, for how long and what we were doing.
Personally I donāt have a problem with it if it helps reduce crime or leads to the arrest of wanted criminals and as someone has already pointed out weāve been tracked for years by countless organisations/businesses without complaint.
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āonly the paranoid surviveā - Andy Grove, ex founder and CEO of Intel.
Most surveillance / cameras are for the good of the majority, often used now as evidence in assault cases etc, traffic flow control on roads. Recognition systems aid check-in and passport free passage through airports ā¦ the applications are immense.
You will not want to go out at all in any country, itās a shame you are so fearful of this technology and its use.
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Trusting or fearing technology? I think about systems, and the people who design/ organise them, the individuals who use the equipment and for what purposes. Any kind of child-like faith in any of it looks iffy, to me. Hi tech doesnāt have built in morality of its ownā¦
I like to pay attention to gut reaction, if it seems to be iffy, with or without assurances and guarantees, it probably is.
No, of course thatās not 100% reliable, but what is?
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Nothing to fear from technology - Iām alive because of it! 
I try to spend time thinking about things that matter.
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I would rather my civil liberties be impinged than be blown up by a suicide bomber, see rioting on the football terrace or get property stolen
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Some great points Ben but what if you just donāt careā¦
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Yeah, but a lot more killing happens when people have guns than when they donāt.
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Orwellās great mistake in 1984 was assuming we needed to be opressed.
Turns out we happily opress ourselves and will welcome the means of opression into our lives with open arms as long as it brings with it a video of a kitten doing cute and amusing things.
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Frankly I donāt really care how many facts and data ātheyā collect about me. I imagine that there are hundreds of people who buy what I buy, visit the same websites I do, go where I go, etc etc etc, there are many profiles exactly like mine. Even if they link my name to my behaviour patterns Iām still next to anonymous, in that they donāt know me or care about me as an individual. Iām just one profile among millions. So in spite of the fact that ātheyā may have reams of data on this virtual profile that they may or may not associate with the name Anna, my address, my vehicle plate, date of birth etc etc, I donāt feel threatened or violated as I would if someone that actually knew me as a real person, collected just one piece of information about me that I didnāt want that particular individual to have. Itās the impersonal / anonymous aspect that makes the difference.
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Bloody well said Anna!
āTrying to spend timeā¦ā?..just my POVā¦donāt want cajole youā¦
ā¦that sounds too much like pressure appliedā¦ to me. Stop ātryingā for a moment or two?, and maybeā¦ let the light in!
Yesā¦moderation sounds OKā¦trust, because you mustā¦but verifyā¦when you canā¦