Nothankyou.jpg
Biometrics, identity cards and scanning your face in snappy snaps are all hot topics in the UK, if only because nobody seems to want them yet people who want to take money from you insist on jamming them down your throat anyway.
Well, I saw this earlier today and could feel at least seven or eight brain cells fry in a rage of rageyness.
"UK Ready and willing for biometric fingerprinting".
More than half (56 per cent) of Britons are now willing to give their biometric data to retailers and financial institutions to prove their identity, according to new research from Unisys.
Nearly everyone (95 per cent) was willing to give their fingerprints, while 90 per cent would use iris recognition.
You know, if you're going to put up something that sounds identical to a press release - at LEAST disclose what the people who provided the survey do, because it may well be somewhat relevant to the idea or issue being promoted. Not everybody has the time to go Googling for things in relation to random articles that proclaim biometrics "the best thing ever".
Many will see that piece, assume Unisys are some kind of survey company, or PR firm, or etc etc etc and go about their daily business thinking "Oh well, if everyone else thinks they're awesome these biometrics / ID cards / databases can't be all bad, then".
But even if you don't know who they are, one quick search gives you this:
Unisys, a developer of biometric and security solutions, has announced it has received an extension on its existing contract with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship covering desktop support and biometric services.
And this:
Unisys has worked with the Department of Homeland Security from the start.
And this.
Unisys provides national ID card management and other biometric security systems.
That's right everyone, the UK is ready and willing for biometrics, says someone WHO MAKES BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY AND WORKS WITH GOVERNMENTS.
While this might not be news to people working in tech related fields, not everybody knows who Unysis are (and the article certainly doesn't point out this somewhat important bit of information).
Meanwhile, the Government are rethinking DNA data retention, pocket change is being hurled at ID card promotion, the Tories say they'll bin cards and databases should they get into power and only 2,000 Mancunians picked up a voluntary ID card which almost makes up for years of annoying people with that bloody football team.
I can't point you to a big pile of people jumping up and down yelling hooray for biometrics and ID cards; however, I can point you to groups who object to biometrics in schools, and larger entities who pretty much object to the whole shebang.
In conclusion, not only am I not "ready and willing" for Biometrics, I'm hard pressed to point to anybody else I know who doesn't think the whole thing is an excercise in security theatre and a great way for Governments to coin in some extra bling while hooking their grubby paws into every aspect of the daily lives of its wage slaves.
Sorry, "citizens".
Well, I saw this earlier today and could feel at least seven or eight brain cells fry in a rage of rageyness.
"UK Ready and willing for biometric fingerprinting".
More than half (56 per cent) of Britons are now willing to give their biometric data to retailers and financial institutions to prove their identity, according to new research from Unisys.
Nearly everyone (95 per cent) was willing to give their fingerprints, while 90 per cent would use iris recognition.
You know, if you're going to put up something that sounds identical to a press release - at LEAST disclose what the people who provided the survey do, because it may well be somewhat relevant to the idea or issue being promoted. Not everybody has the time to go Googling for things in relation to random articles that proclaim biometrics "the best thing ever".
Many will see that piece, assume Unisys are some kind of survey company, or PR firm, or etc etc etc and go about their daily business thinking "Oh well, if everyone else thinks they're awesome these biometrics / ID cards / databases can't be all bad, then".
But even if you don't know who they are, one quick search gives you this:
Unisys, a developer of biometric and security solutions, has announced it has received an extension on its existing contract with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship covering desktop support and biometric services.
And this:
Unisys has worked with the Department of Homeland Security from the start.
And this.
Unisys provides national ID card management and other biometric security systems.
That's right everyone, the UK is ready and willing for biometrics, says someone WHO MAKES BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY AND WORKS WITH GOVERNMENTS.
While this might not be news to people working in tech related fields, not everybody knows who Unysis are (and the article certainly doesn't point out this somewhat important bit of information).
Meanwhile, the Government are rethinking DNA data retention, pocket change is being hurled at ID card promotion, the Tories say they'll bin cards and databases should they get into power and only 2,000 Mancunians picked up a voluntary ID card which almost makes up for years of annoying people with that bloody football team.
I can't point you to a big pile of people jumping up and down yelling hooray for biometrics and ID cards; however, I can point you to groups who object to biometrics in schools, and larger entities who pretty much object to the whole shebang.
In conclusion, not only am I not "ready and willing" for Biometrics, I'm hard pressed to point to anybody else I know who doesn't think the whole thing is an excercise in security theatre and a great way for Governments to coin in some extra bling while hooking their grubby paws into every aspect of the daily lives of its wage slaves.
Sorry, "citizens".
Labels: biometrics, government, identity, nothankyou.jpg
3 Comments:
Perhaps Unisys identified their survey participants by working from a database of those who already have given up their biometrics data?
Pity no-one in the UK seems to know that Big Brother is not just a TV program!
NACCIS
While I detest the idea that a government would actually have the gaul to collate biometric data on the genral public. For certain "delicate" positions, where a perface ID match in nevessary, maybe .... just maybe there is a very small scope for this. I'd put it in the region of the 10's of people not the gernal public in the millions.
To use this on the gerneral pulic is frightening... just think of everything they already hold on you and now you Biometrics too.
NO ... NOT IN FAVOUR
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home