As a matter of interest - what is everyone talking about? Being the last man standing who doesn’t even own a wind-up mobile phone, can I ask what these things are; ?
FCR Technology?
K–b?
IPv4 addresses?
RFC 1918 (Royal Flying Corps 1918??)
VLANS?
a/ publicly routed block?
There was me thinking ‘beam me up Scottie’ was high-tech!
Helen, I am fascinated by this topic as I haven’t got a clue what everybody is rabbiting on about - but I was intrigued by your ‘when my car breaks down’ remark, which I am sure was a throwaway one.
I am trying to recall when a car I owned broke down, and as far as I can recall it was in Australia about 1980 - almost 40 years ago? Thinking about it even more, I have never owned a ‘new car’ unless it was a Company one. I am not anything remotely like a car mechanic with my knowledge on that subject being also of an even earlier vintage.
Have I been extraordinarily lucky with the at least seven cars owned over that period?
Face Capture and Recognition.
A toned down version of what Andrew called me.
Networking terms - IP version 4 address - that’s one of those things which have four numbers separated by dots e.g. 8.8.8.8 - they allow computers to find each other on the Internet (bit like a phone number); RFC1918 - a specific range of addresses used for private networks, typically 192.168.x.y (but other ranges are possible); VLAN - virtual LAN (=Local Area Network); publicly routed block - range of IP addresses which can not only reach out to the Internet but also which can accept incoming connections from the Internet. A /27 network is a group of 32 IP version 4 addresses - of which 30 can be used for computers.
Basically the networking stuff is for absolute nerds only, if you don’t already understand the terms you generally won’t need to understand them.
That counts me out then!!! 
So, not quite what we have been talking about but an illustration of how the tools that we accept into our daily lives could be turned to malign purposes.
This is frightening.
Their target seems to be human rights lawyers and civil rights activists.
An unholy alliance between the USA and Israel.
No doubt they will be pursuing some other awful scheme to replace this one.
Possibly…x 
My vehicle breakdown history was mostly but not entirely before having my kids…so prior to 1988…conversely also before having a mobile phone…!
My ex-hubby’s business relied on a “fleet” of what may politely be considered “bangers”…so many a time if I even managed to get off the driveway to get to work then I very often returned…after a hard day’s graft to a van that wouldn’t start…or if it did start…a van that gave up the ghost some place on my way home…
Having no mobile at the time meant a trudge to find a phone box…usually in the depths of winter…or some kind soul stopping to help me change a tyre…which I do know how to change a tyre but usually there was always the one nut that I couldn’t get off…
I have been precariously towed home by our family friend at the time on pieces of rope that have snapped and then when it was tied back on again I was almost on his bumper…!
None of which would be allowed now…
One memorable time was having a front wheel fly off and I’m still not entirely sure how I managed to come to a halt safely…it involved a lot of trying to stay calm and lots of sparking metal…x 
Eventually my ex saw the benefit of having breakdown cover…I guess those early experiences have stayed with me…so as I’m currently alone in Brittany for most of the year then having a mobile phone to call my breakdown service if necessary or my wonderful local garagiste if I’m not too far from home is an absolute essential…x
I think…not caring…is a very powerful reaction. One that carries a great deal of potential for harm.
I just caught this post today and am sorry not to have been on board 'till now - it looks so interesting. It started with Jane saying that because of all the facial recognition cameras she is glad not to be in UK. As many have said, respectfully Jane it is just the same here and I hate it too, you can not escape it . It may , however help the police catch the person who climbed Notre Dame in order to start the fire - or the other persons aiding the ‘lone shooter’ in New Zealand, or perhaps they only use the results of these cameras selectively when it suits them.
I did say that sometimes it will be necessary.
My fear is that it will become the norm.
Policing has changed now that targets have to be met and it is the low hanging fruit, all of us, that may have to pay the price.
In the case of the Click report on BBC news it was the police operating the system with new vans fitted out with telescopic facial recognition cameras.
Policing has changed since draconian cuts have meant a lot of it has to be reactive rather than proactive. These camera vans are not going to be cheap they will be deployed where they are needed,there isn’t going to be one on every street corner
It’s apples and oranges to compare policing in the UK and France. Too many people get their knowledge of policing and policing matters from the mainstream media
As you say, I have had very unpleasant experiences with the gendarmerie here in France.
But not only me, but my neighbour who was shot dead by the gendarmerie when they were actually supposed to be looking for him as he was posted as a suicide risk as he suffered from bi-polar disorder.
The case of Carl Beech, ‘Nick’ is now undergoing trial in Newcastle and I am sure that it will be revealing as to why the police believed him without first investigating what he was saying.
They omly found about his lying when, eventually, they found out thst the boys he saw ‘killed’ by eminent members of society were actually alive and well.
Whilst so much money and time was spent on this case, others suffering from burglary, antisocial behaviour and domestic violence have bern ignored and money-making prosecutions have soared.
I appreciate that tgere has been a lack of resourcing for the police, but making up for it by following the money trail does not endear them to many.
Sorry Jane, but who is getting this money? The police don’t prosecute people full stop. It’s the CPS ,and the police don’t make money from people going to court. There is the Proceeds of Crime Act where Ill gotten gains are seized but to suggest the police are taking people to court to make money to compensate for budget cuts is beyond laughable
Don’t forget ANPR 
I would prefer this type of intrusion if it can ultimately get to the offenders who are responsible for the Manchester bombing or the Bataclan
Agree, but it has been there for a long time, why was anyone surprised when the press reported that the US had been listening to Angela M!
It was going on before the digital age and will go on forever.
If you say B@MB etc in a call, email sms,it will raise a flag, if you are not intent on terrorism you will probably be ignored. Otherwise you may be investigated.
What is the issue with that.
No offence meant Paul, I totally understand your POV but many others don’t understand what happens in the real world
I really don’t get this fear/dislike of something that will not affect your life one little bit. These cameras are being used/trialled by a few police forces as an additional tool to help tackle crime, that’s it.
San Francisco has just banned the police and all of its other authorities from using facial recognition cameras because of its unreliability.
If one of the centres of high tech is not convinced, it should make all of us worry.