We know from recent hacks, and even the Snowden revelations, how vulnerable information gathered is to theft and misuse
O
ne thing to remember about the modern world is that nothing online is ever secure. M&S and Jaguar taught us that. Edward Snowden taught us that. Every week, it seems, some giant corporation sees its system collapse at the touch of a button in an attic.
The government this week opened a consultation on its plan for nationwide facial recognition and surveillance. You would need only put your face outdoors and walk down the street and authorities will know and record it. Of course we will be assured that all will be kept secure. It will not. Cash or conspiracy will find it out and it will leak.
Already, the consultation is a lie. Facial surveillance is already up and running. London’s Met police claims it has caught more than 100 sex offenders breaking their licence conditions. At least six forces have their town centres plugged in and Whitehall has admitted that it intends the technology to be used nationwide. The policing minister, Sarah Jones, calls facial surveillance “the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching”. It will “help free up police time”. What’s not to like?
