<nettime> Big brother logs on...

[Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>]

BIG BROTHER LOGS ON
By Ivan Amato, Technology Review, September 2001, pp 58-63

New surveillance technology meant to increase safety and security can be
misused in a scenario that George Orwell anticipated in his novel 1984.
Fingerprint and facial recognition systems and other biometric
technologies can make life easier and safer, but can also help governments
and companies intrude into our lives. Author David Brin has written a book
that says that the solution is technology so pervasive that it's available
to everyone, not just big corporate entities -- but there is no guarantee
against the abuse of these new tools. As one security expert says, this
technology like any other, will bring both good and bad effects. The more
probably outcome is what he calls "function creep", in which, for
instance, a face-recognition system developed for voter registration can
then be used to monitor political opponents. Many organization are already
seeking to enlist governments and companies in "Privacy Pledge" drives.

See full article at http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/amato0901.asp









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