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U.K. Official: Big Brother Is Watching
by Winter Casey
For those who live in Britain, a new report commissioned by the information commissioner's office warns that "Big Brother" is watching.
Though some types of surveillance are motivated by positive intentions, the unintended consequences of surveillance "that lead to inequalities of access and opportunity and distinctions of class, race, gender geography and citizenship" have not attracted enough attention, according to the report written and released by the Surveillance Studies Network.
The markers of this new world include video cameras, electronic tags, biometric identifiers, software that analyzes consumer spending habits, and more stringent identification requirements. Further, people are increasingly monitored at their work, while telephone, e-mail and Internet use also can be tapped by British and U.S. intelligence services, according to the group. The study presents a vision of what a 2016 London might look like if the issues of surveillance are not more thoroughly addressed.
The Surveillance Studies Network, which includes scholars involved in surveillance studies, argues for more global and integrated regulation of surveillance practices. Lauren Weinstein, co-founder of the International Open Internet Coalition, said the best approach is to enact laws that deal with privacy and surveillance issues "in a broad manner that is relatively independent of the technology and allows for their immediate application to new technologies."
Last week, United Kingdom Information Commissioner Richard Thomas launched a public debate on the implications of surveillance.
"Two years ago, I warned that we were in danger of sleepwalking into a surveillance society," Thomas said. "Today I fear that we are in fact walking up to a surveillance society that is already all around us. Surveillance activities can be well-intentioned and bring benefits ... but unseen, uncontrolled or excessive surveillance can foster a climate of suspicion and undermine trust."
Facing nontraditional enemies in the war on terrorism, governments must look for new ways to fight this battle. Local and national governments have looked to surveillance technology to keep their citizens safe. In the United States, a White House report released in September touted the benefits of passenger screening, new technologies for identification and databases as valuable tools for thwarting potential terrorists.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair voiced support for national ID cards and a database. Despite such measures, Blair reportedly said as recently as last year that, "We are not living in a police state, but we are living in a country that faces a real and serious threat of terrorism."
Europe, U.S. To Share Crime, Terror Data
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Monday that the United States has signed an executive agreement with Eurojust, the judicial cooperation unit of the European Union. Under the pact, EU and U.S. law enforcement communities will increase information-sharing and strengthen efforts against cyber crime and terrorism.
To tackle terrorism, August Hanning, the head of the German Interior Ministry, said at a press conference with Gonzales that "it's so important to have an exchange of information. I think information is the most important tool for fighting against terrorism. And we have reached here considerable progress."
The Internet "is an important platform for recruiting of terrorists, as a communication platform," Hanning said. "And therefore, we want to stress the surveillance of the Internet as one of the most important points of our presidency."
Gonzales noted that "different traditions and different legal systems," including views about privacy, may make it more difficult to share information. But he added that "these are things that we need to work together on and look at this thing strategically and collectively."
In other security news, the United States has established a government counterinsurgency Web site. It emerged out of a September conference aimed at facilitating "the development of an integrated U.S. government approach to counterinsurgency that would [bring] all elements of U.S. national power to bear in countering transnational insurgencies," according to a State Department press release.
Meanwhile in the European Union, Web users can become virtual members of the European Parliament in a new online game that allows people to participate in virtual debates, vote and draft resolutions.
Also in Europe, many Europeans would rather switch off their cellular telephones when traveling abroad than face high roaming charges, according to a European Commission survey released Tuesday. The survey found that a majority of EU citizens said governments should help ensure that prices for making and receiving calls abroad are not substantially higher than for those at home. EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding called on operators to introduce more reasonable roaming packages.
China Considers Free Trade With India
China is considering establishing a free trade area with India, China's state news reported this week. China already is engaged in discussions with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Trade between China and India has increased over the past few years.
Xinhua also reported that EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson plans to attend a meeting this week in China to promote cooperation between European and Chinese small and medium-sized businesses.
And The Ethiopian Herald reported that Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Chinese President Hu Jintao spent part of the weekend discussing growing cooperation between their countries. Hu said China would support Ethiopia's efforts to expand its telecommunications industry.
Also on the telecom front, the International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference opened this week in Antalya, Turkey. The quadrennial meeting, which is expected to have more than 2,000 participants from more than 150 countries, will focus on policies and recommendations related to communications technologies.
U.S. Education Team Heads To China, Japan
U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is expected to announce details of what the Education Department is describing as the first-ever high-profile delegation of U.S. college and university presidents to China, Japan and South Korea.
The U.S. group, which will include Assistant Secretary of State Dina Habib Powell, plans to spread the message that U.S. institutions welcome international students. Last week, the Council of Graduate Schools reported that the total enrollment of international graduate students in the United States increased 1 percent from 2005 to 2006. In the past, some lawmakers have expressed concern over the number of foreigners enrolled in U.S. colleges.
In other news, a subcommittee for the electronics assembly industry trade group IPC is working on the development of a standard for lithium-ion battery cells used in laptop computers. Several technology companies have been forced to recall millions of such rechargeable batteries because of concerns about connected devices catching fire or exploding.
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