Monday, April 2. 2012
Anonymous' rights
The British Government has come up with another plan for collecting people's data online. Labour tried the same thing a few years ago. Now, I'm no fan of facebook and most people tend to leave their profile public anyway. People have the right to be anonymous though. Using facebook to to spy on you seems a bit much, eavesdropping on your calls and texts without so much as a warrant? Ah, but those spies are clever people aren't they? They'll only spy on criminals surely! You and me we're not criminals. So why should we worry about these types of laws? If you've nothing to hide you've nothing to fear, right?
Let's engage in a little exercise. I want you to post in the comments:
Date of Birth
Phone Number
Home Address
Sexual Orientation
Criminal Record
Full medical history, including those genital warts
That time you broke into the abandoned house on a dare because you were 14
That time you went into the back field, had a few cans and then got into a fight and had to be picked up by your mom with a bloody nose
The bestiality porn you downloaded, just to see what it was like
A receipt for every mp3 on your computer right now
The amount of illegal or controlled substances in your house, including your schizophrenia medication
That time you got too much change at the supermarket but couldn't be bothered going back with it
Your Credit Card Number
Hyperbole? Yes. But the fact is don't have to post those things because you have the right to remain anonymous. To me and to the government. The government should know only the minimum it needs to serve you. Everything else, including how you lost your virginity, is yours to keep. Seriously though, it was in a dressing room?
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"Saving lives" my ASS.
I'm glad you raised this issue. I agree with every sentiment. But I'm not sure we, as it stands, actually legally have a 'right' to anonymity. I'm not sure it's a basic human right. Is that the same as privacy? Privacy laws are different for every country - well, until such things as ACTA and world government eventually unify the craziness.
I would assume that laws are tailored to suit the country's needs (or more likely what the corporation/military-lobbied government decides are needs).
Are the laws there the same as the outrageous and astounding internet and privacy laws found in the United States? Draconian and dangerous, at best, in the land of the 'free'.
I think we SHOULD fight for anonymity, frankly. 'They' are waging a campaign to persuade the average idiot that privacy is akin to hiding something, and those who wish to remain anon obviously are criminals and terrorists.
How many times have we seen someone respond to privacy remarks with 'if you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear'? I fear greatly, actually, but not because I'm up to no good - but because THEY are.
I'm glad you raised this issue. I agree with every sentiment. But I'm not sure we, as it stands, actually legally have a 'right' to anonymity. I'm not sure it's a basic human right. Is that the same as privacy? Privacy laws are different for every country - well, until such things as ACTA and world government eventually unify the craziness.
I would assume that laws are tailored to suit the country's needs (or more likely what the corporation/military-lobbied government decides are needs).
Are the laws there the same as the outrageous and astounding internet and privacy laws found in the United States? Draconian and dangerous, at best, in the land of the 'free'.
I think we SHOULD fight for anonymity, frankly. 'They' are waging a campaign to persuade the average idiot that privacy is akin to hiding something, and those who wish to remain anon obviously are criminals and terrorists.
How many times have we seen someone respond to privacy remarks with 'if you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear'? I fear greatly, actually, but not because I'm up to no good - but because THEY are.
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