This article is from today's (5th July) Irish Examiner a national daily based in Cork city and with a Munster bias. But it is NOT a sensationalist rag (i.e.the 'red-tops') nor is it even left-of-centre.

See what you think. http://www.irishexaminer.com/text/story.asp?j=cwaukfcwqlmhsney&p=zxyz7696&n=20127774

Then think about 42 days detention WITHOUT trial.

Given my posts and my web-browsing habits it concerns me more than a little, but F--- 'em, you either stand up and do what you can or they'll just keep on chipping away until we're all sheep in a pen.

Bananaman wrote:
This article is from today's (5th July) Irish Examiner a national daily based in Cork city and with a Munster bias. But it is NOT a sensationalist rag (i.e.the 'red-tops') nor is it even left-of-centre.

See what you think. http://www.irishexaminer.com/text/story.asp?j=cwaukfcwqlmhsney&p=zxyz7696&n=20127774

Then think about 42 days detention WITHOUT trial.

Given my posts and my web-browsing habits it concerns me more than a little, but F--- 'em, you either stand up and do what you can or they'll just keep on chipping away until we're all sheep in a pen.

Yes, its worrying isn't it? I read recently that Local Authorities here in the UK now have tougher powers to invade our space in the same areas, including email, telephone calls et all. I find it worrying enough that Police have such powers but Local Authorities! We think we have all this freedom now to communicate in so many different ways yet the truth is we really have no idea to what extent we are being watched. Yep, well scary.

Yeah last summer I worked with an Irish woman who graduated in England with a Social Science degree and ended up working for DSS.

Over time her job changed from helping people in need of benefits and supports find what they needed and were entitled to, to policing the system and weeding out cheats.

As part of this she could, on the say so of her supervisor (who she claims was no more qualified or better trained than she was), ask for and receive bank details, including payments in and out, phone records, mortgage and other financial records, family details and travel records.

At no time did she have to undergo any data-protection training nor any police vetting AND at no time was the person under suspicion alerted as to this intrusion into their affairs.

She said that over time it became apparent that most people under suspicion were placed in this category on the basis of being foreign or having foreign names, or having been 'fingered' by neighbours etc.
Now I've had disputes with neighbours on occasions and the thought that just because of some grudge the DSS can delve into my affairs if I happen to be unemployed or claiming benefits is frankly ourageous.

The snooping you describe is of course happening but considering the sheer volume of email and internet traffic it seems a little unlikely that there could be any systematic mass surveillance going on. As far as I was aware any agency who wanted to access your financial activities would have to get a warrant to do so - or am I just being naive?

Levenax wrote:
The snooping you describe is of course happening but considering the sheer volume of email and internet traffic it seems a little unlikely that there could be any systematic mass surveillance going on. As far as I was aware any agency who wanted to access your financial activities would have to get a warrant to do so - or am I just being naive?

Hi Lev
I'm beginning to think we are all naive and far too trusting.

Island strife breaks out as Skye's clear blue water and rugged mountain landscape is scarred by a council CCTV camera




http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Island-strife-breaks-out-.4260485.jp

CCTV cameras here?

I do think you're being a bit too trusting mate,

Think about bar codes in supermarkets - digital info

All phone and text messages - digital info

You set up your banks of computers to run the digital info looking for sets of patterns and set certain frequencies of these patterns as the parameters for moving certain calls into a different level of analysis.

If computers can fly modern supersonic jets (and most modern fighters can't be flown without them) then they can certainly monitor billions of bits of digital info per second and ALL phone records are kept for 3 years. Add in the fact that if its a War in Terror investigation how far does it go before any court is involved, plus according to the Irish lady there was no court involved.

Google GCHQ and what they do.

Alternatively find an acquaintance with an ethnic arabic surname and send them texts and emails hinting at bombs, explosives, money transfers, Al-Queda and see if anything happens.

Hi Bananaman,

I think this is an important as well as an interesting post a subject well worth bringing to our attention. Reading the article I tried to imagine how my day would be affected. Not a comforting thought process.

I have always had a very “och if you have nothing to hide attitude“.

I feel differently now.

The ability given to for instance council workers and DHSS workers gives the plain opportunity for abuse and personal abuse at that. It is a little worrying. I take the point Levinax makes though and the staff needed to snoop on every person would be phenomenal.

I don’t think I would be brave enough to test the system in the way you suggest.

Knowing as I do the hoops the police have to jump through to access personal information I find the apparent lack of accountabilty posted here quite worrying. If I request a PNC check on a Vehicle or a SCRO check on a person, I have to record the reason I wanted it and Heaven help me if I can't justify it when it's audited.

Surely these bodies must do the same thing?

dws wrote:
Knowing as I do the hoops the police have to jump through to access personal information I find the apparent lack of accountabilty posted here quite worrying. If I request a PNC check on a Vehicle or a SCRO check on a person, I have to record the reason I wanted it and Heaven help me if I can't justify it when it's audited.

Surely these bodies must do the same thing?

Not if all we have read is true.

I wonder how many times have I been recorded on CCTV, not to mention the hundreds of satellite images of me plodding about in the garden and, occasionally in the High Street. It would not surprise me to find the number in the thousands.
Are the STASI running things now?

scunnert wrote:
CCTV cameras here?



Scunny, ohhhhhhh thanks for that superb pic with the Cuillin in the background looking all moody. My favourite place in the world Skye.