Big brother is watching?

Question

I read in the papers the other day Brittans are the most watched people in the world with 1 camera for every 8 people, well I agree about the crime it prevents however is it fair that if needed your entire life could be on record. Now there is talk of black boxes in cars!!! I know that we are all meant to follow laws and be good citizens however can anyone honestly say they have never broken the law just once? How far Is Too Far?

As far as I am concerned the line is drawn at theft, murder and harming another human however, I have partaken in recreational use of controlled substances, driven too fast and found plenty of ways to dodge diferent taxes so i gues I am admitting to the people that monitor this site I have broken the law and i will see your flashing blue lights shortly

Answer 1

The UK is home to around 20% of all the world's overt CCTV cameras (roughly four million, or one for every fourteen or fifteen people). However these figures don't consider covert cameras, such as those mounted in police patrol cars. Nor do they acknowledge public webcams or domestic CCTV.

For what it's worth the majority of these systems are passively monitored until needed, but with year-by-year advances in pattern recognition technology (read: AI) there'll be a greater degree of automated active monitoring.

And with respect to your talk of black boxes in cars... It's just a matter of time. The current trend toward more and more toll roads will require some kind of convergent monitoring, and little black boxes with GPS capability will go a long way toward allowing that. (Red Ken Livingstone would just LOVE one of those on YOUR car, whether you live in London or otherwise.)

Furthermore, the capacity of CCTV to "catch" criminals is completely overshadowed by the courts inability to effectively prosecute them. Any suggestion that CCTV makes our streets safer is a myth busted wide open by independant, authorative observation (that's you and me).

(Do you really believe the streets are safer to walk these days? I don't. I can see it with my own eyes, and I don't have to watch the broadcast news or read the papers every single day to appreciate it. CCTV will NOT protect you, me, our friends or our families. It does not deter. At best it affords a visual record of past events, and at worse it offers a false sense of security.)

As for this Government's fascination with ID cards and greater immigration and anti-terrorism controls, any monitoring technology that may benefit that end will definitely be employed for tasks beyond its original purpose; this is the norm. At great cost to the taxpayer, and with a contrasting threat to civil liberties. (Read: we're paying toward an Orwellian future.)

There's a pattern forming here, and never before has the word 'monitoring' taken on such an ominous undertone.

Oh, and that old classic line of "If you've got nothing to hide then you've nothing to fear" is a fallacy. We, all of us, strive to be private citizens. We, all of us, have something to hide, whether it's our sexual preference, secret crush, betting addiction, bank ballance or exam results.

The plain and simple truth of it is that we, all of us, have something to fear from a Big Brother state. Oppression is born of an ideal, yet matures through ignorance and denial. But even though history is a damn fine teacher we so easily forget the past.

Answer 2

Well, look at it this way. The size of the police force required to punish people for every little thing humans do that might get caught on camera would need to be one officer for every 8 people, as well, probably. Not likely to happen.

However, on the road we're heading down, if government reaches too far into people's liberties, the masses will stand it for a while, then rebel. If there is anything history has taught us, it's that there is a breaking point. Then, wars break out, governments topple, and the cycle starts all over again. Thats how you know when it's too far.

It would be nice to think that the people we put in power would practice some restraint in regard to how much spying on and restricting of the populace they do, but plainly, that's a forlorn hope. It's probably not a question of if, but when and how, the public rebels against such government encroachment.

Answer 3

I have broken the law many times in my life so far, not in extremely bad was just was teens usually do and even know what you say i have heard before, why cant they find the worlds most illusive terrorists and people they have been looking for , for over 10 decades? too far to me is hurting other people and causeing them grief for no reason. I say that with opinion but if someone hurt my family and i could find them that wouldnt not be in my mind at all, i guess it just depends on what type of person you are and what your morals are.

Answer 4

Just because there are cameras, doesn't mean that they're being watched by anyone. Mostly they just record for a time and are then recorded over. They're only checked if there is a reason. People seem to think that there are loads of people sitting in rooms surrounded by screens watching everybody. Why would they bother?

Answer 5

does anyone actually realise they are being watched, no. people still continue to break the law even with the camaras, but for those who have had a crime commited against them i.e. assult then it's a god send because they can use it as evidence in the courts.

i feel if you have nothing to hide then whats to worry about.

Answer 6

i actually think its a good idea for some.
but there are exceptions for everything.
ive bent a few laws ....who hasnt?
when you drive faster then the speeding limit your breaking the law.
if making the right person a lab study helps the world learn then so be it.
this person should not be refferred to as selfish. ever!
p.i.t.a.

Answer 7

I thoroughly have faith you Scooby and function suggested if Marcus and Freddy flow indoors the subsequent 2 evictions i do no longer think of of i'm going to undertaking observing it. different than for Siavash no-one left would i % everywhere close to to the perfect no longer to tutor win it. one among those unhappiness.

Answer 8

remember lord haw haw, how he used information from prisoners
to use as proper ganda warfare, what do you think they could do with personal information on everybody in britain, because the information will not be staying in britain it will be going to brussels.
when we fall out with them, the gove who want to do this are your enemy.

Answer 9

Probably, but Im not doing anything illegal so I don’t care.

Answer 10

Give it a few years, its gonna get worse I am sure of it!!!