CCTV and DNA advances add to bills but minister calls rises unacceptable CCTV y ADN avances añadir a los proyectos de ley, pero insta ministro sube inaceptable

Jill Sherman, Whitehall Editor, and Murad Ahmed Jill Sherman, editor de Whitehall, y Murad Ahmed

Soaring costs of surveillance technology to combat crime and terrorism has contributed to the eleventh consecutive round of inflation-breaking council tax rises. Fuerte aumento de los costos de la tecnología de vigilancia para combatir la delincuencia y el terrorismo ha contribuido a la undécima ronda consecutiva de la inflación-rompiendo consejo fiscal aumenta.

A Times/Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy survey of more than 250 authorities shows that the average council tax is expected to rise by 3.9 per cent in April. Un Times / Instituto de Finanzas Públicas y Contabilidad encuesta de más de 250 autoridades muestra que el promedio de impuestos que se espera que aumente en un 3,9 por ciento en abril. This masks a mixed picture across the country with 92 councils setting rises above 4 per cent and 12 above 5 per cent. Esto oculta un panorama desigual en todo el país con 92 consejos establecimiento se eleva por encima del 4 por ciento y 12 por encima del 5 por ciento.

But police precepts — the element of tax bills for police services — have been responsible for boosting many overall council tax rises to more than 5 per per cent, the level at which they can be capped. Pero la policía preceptos - el elemento fiscal de las facturas de los servicios de policía - han sido responsables de muchos impulsar el consejo general de impuestos se eleva a más del 5 por por ciento, el nivel en el que puedan ser cerrados.

Lincolnshire Police Authority decided last night on a whopping 79 per cent increase, boosting household bills by more than £100 a year on its element alone, and 12 other police authorities, almost one in three, have decided on increases of more than 5 per cent. Lincolnshire Policía decidió anoche en una friolera de 79 por ciento de aumento, la mejora del hogar por más de 100 libras al año en su elemento solamente, y otras 12 autoridades de policía, casi uno de cada tres, han decidido sobre el aumento de más del 5 por ciento .

John Healey, the Local Government Minister, said last night that any authority, including police and fire, proposing increases of more than 5 per cent risked being capped. John Healey, el Ministro de Gobierno Local, dijo anoche que cualquier autoridad, incluida la policía y los bomberos, proponiendo aumentos de más del 5 por ciento corre el riesgo de ser cerrados. He made clear that Lincolnshire’s proposal was unacceptable. Dejó claro que la propuesta de Lincolnshire es inaceptable.

The police authority insisted that its increase was necessary to save the jobs of hundreds of staff and plug a £6 million shortfall in finances. La autoridad policial insistió en que el aumento era necesario para salvar los puestos de trabajo de cientos de funcionarios y enchufe a £ 6 millones de déficit en las finanzas.

The Assocation of Police Authorities said that new demands on policing including CCTV, setting up automatic number plate registration and processing DNA sampling had led to spiralling costs for police forces. La Asociación de Autoridades de la Policía dijo que las nuevas demandas de la policía incluyendo CCTV, la creación automática de número de placa de registro y procesamiento de muestras de ADN ha dado lugar a la espiral de los costos de las fuerzas de policía. “With new technology and forensics there’s more of it available now, and it’s costing more,” said Bob Jones, chairman of the association. "Con la nueva tecnología forense y hay más de los que dispone ahora, y es un costo más", dijo Bob Jones, presidente de la asociación. “As the challenge has become more sophisticated, we have a very substantial increase in costs.” "Como el problema se ha hecho más sofisticado, tenemos un incremento muy sustancial en los costos."

Mr Jones pointed to the updating and expanding of the DNA database and the costs of surveying CCTV evidence. Señor Jones se refirió a la actualización y ampliación de la base de datos de ADN y de los costes de evaluación de las pruebas de circuito cerrado de televisión. “Look at investigations like the London bombings, or the Suffolk murders. "Mira a las investigaciones como los atentados de Londres, o los asesinatos de Suffolk. The amount of processing of the CCTV footage costs so much. El importe de la tramitación de la CCTV metraje costos tanto. Ten years ago there would not have been anything to look at,” he said. Hace diez años no hubiera sido nada que ver ", dijo.

The 3.9 per cent increase across the country, the lowest for ten years, includes geographical variations, with the West Country and the South East tending to have higher rises and Greater London the lowest. El 3,9 por ciento de aumento en todo el país, el más bajo de los últimos diez años, incluye variaciones geográficas, con el occidente del país y la región del sudeste tiende a tener una mayor alza y la más baja Greater London. Although 267 councils out of 380 provided figures for their proposed rises, only 150 had their rises confirmed by last night and have been included in the table. Aunque 267 de los 380 consejos proporcionado las cifras de sus propuestas se eleva, sólo 150 habían confirmado por sus subidas de anoche y se han incluido en el cuadro. A further 30 London authorities, some of which still have to agree rises, have also been included. Otras 30 autoridades de Londres, algunos de los cuales todavía tienen que ponerse de acuerdo se eleva, también se han incluido.

Ken Livingstone has tried to improve his chances of being re-elected as Mayor of London by trying to secure low rises in the capital. Ken Livingstone ha tratado de mejorar sus posibilidades de ser reelegido como alcalde de Londres por tratar de asegurar baja sube en la capital. The survey shows that in inner London the average increase is only 2 per cent while in outer boroughs it is 3.1 per cent. La encuesta muestra que en el centro de Londres el promedio de aumento es sólo del 2 por ciento, mientras que en los distritos municipales exterior es de 3,1 por ciento.

Part of the reason is a Greater London Authority precept of just 2 per cent, almost two thirds lower than the previous two years. Parte de la razón es un precepto de la Autoridad del Gran Londres de que el 2 por ciento, casi dos tercios inferiores a los dos años anteriores.

But he has also been helped by the increasing number of Tory councils keen to keep taxes as low as possible. Pero él también ha sido ayudado por el creciente número de Tory consejos de interés para mantener los impuestos tan bajos como sea posible. For the second year running Hammersmith has come in with a cut of 3 per cent (minus 1.74 per cent once the GLA precept is included) with Westminster, Wandsworth, Kensington & Chelsea and Hounslow also proposing freezes in council tax bills. Por segundo año en el Hammersmith ha llegado con un recorte del 3 por ciento (menos el 1,74 por ciento, una vez que el precepto se incluye GLA) con Westminster, Wandsworth, Kensington & Chelsea, y Hounslow también propone la congelación de los proyectos de ley en el consejo fiscal. Hackney, a Labour council, has frozen its bill though there will be a small increase due to the GLA precept. Hackney, un consejo del Trabajo, ha congelado su proyecto de ley, aunque habrá un pequeño aumento debido a la GLA precepto.

Leicester City Council has set the highest rise in the country (6.2 per cent) although the council leader blames the police authority for boosting the bill to higher than 5 per cent. Leicester Ayuntamiento ha puesto en el más alto lugar en el país (6,2 por ciento), aunque el consejo líder culpa a la policía la autoridad para impulsar el proyecto de ley para mayor que el 5 por ciento.

The pattern is mixed across the country but there is some evidence that increasing emphasis on efficiency has kept rises to low single figures. El patrón se mezcla en todo el país, pero hay algunas pruebas de que la creciente énfasis en la eficiencia ha mantenido baja se eleva a solo cifras.

The survey shows that of the 16 authorities with rises below 1 per cent, eight are Conservative, three are Labour, one is Liberal Democrat and four have no overall control. La encuesta pone de manifiesto que las autoridades de los 16 con subidas por debajo del 1 por ciento, ocho son conservadores, tres son del Trabajo, uno se los Liberales, Demócratas y cuatro no tienen control general. But of the 92 with rises over 4 per cent, 59 are Conservative, 6 Labour, 6 Liberal Democrat, and 19 NOC and 2 other. Pero de los 92 con alzas superiores al 4 por ciento, 59 son conservadores, el 6 de Trabajo, el 6 de los Liberales, Demócratas, y el 19 de la NOC y otros 2.

Tim Brain, finance head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the Government was increasing demands to fight terrorism and appoint more community officers but was not providing the necessary funds. Tim Brain, finanzas jefe de la Asociación de Jefes de Policía, dijo que el Gobierno está cada vez más demandas para luchar contra el terrorismo y nombrar a más oficiales de la comunidad, pero no fue proporcionar los fondos necesarios.

POLICE AUTHORITY AUTORIDAD POLICIAL
(% Change | Band D 2008-09 £) (Cambio% | Banda D 2008-09 £)

Avon & Somerset 4.9 154.32 Avon y Somerset 4,9 154,32
Bedfordshire 9.6 135.28 Bedfordshire 9,6 135,28
Cambridgeshire 5.0 156.87 Cambridgeshire 5,0 156,87
Cumbria 4.9 179.46 Cumbria 4,9 179,46
Derbyshire 4.6 148.44 Derbyshire 4,6 148,44
Dorset 4.9 164.25 Dorset 4,9 164,25
Dyfed-Powys 5.0 165.51 Dyfed-Powys 5,0 165,51
Essex 4.9 122.22 Essex 4,9 122,22
Gloucestershire 5.0 188.45 Gloucestershire 5,0 188,45
Gtr Manchester 7.5 124.90 Gtr Manchester 7,5 124,90
Hampshire 8.1 135.54 Hampshire 8,1 135,54
Hertfordshire 5.0 136.67 Hertfordshire 5,0 136,67
Humberside 4.5 156.31 Kent 5.0 128.25 Humberside 4,5 156,31 Kent 5,0 128,25
Lancashire 7.9 135.96 Lancashire 7,9 135,96
Leicestershire 15.4 160.40 Leicestershire 15,4 160,40
Lincolnshire 78.9 n/a Lincolnshire 78,9 n / a
Norfolk 8.3 178.56 Norfolk 8,3 178,56
North Wales 4.5 186.18 North Wales 4,5 186,18
Northumbria 4.9 78.27 Northumbria 4,9 78,27
Nottinghamshire 4.9 145.62 Nottinghamshire 4,9 145,62
South Wales 5.0 139.38 Gales del Sur 5,0 139,38
South Yorkshire 4.7 124.56 South Yorkshire 4,7 124,56
Staffordshire 3.8 166.16 Staffordshire 3,8 166,16
Suffolk 9.0 149.67 Suffolk 9,0 149,67
Surrey 9.7 187.92 Surrey 9,7 187,92
Sussex 4.9 128.70 Sussex 4,9 128,70
Thames Valley 4.0 144.76 Thames Valley 4,0 144,76
Warwickshire 12.9 164.68 Warwickshire 12,9 164,68
West Mercia 4.9 165.45 West Mercia 4,9 165,45
West Midlands 3.5 94.67 West Midlands 3,5 94,67
Wiltshire 4.3 145.34 Wiltshire 4,3 145,34

by Por Cory Doctorow Cory Doctorow

This German exibition is showcasing bright infrared LED devices that overwhelm the CCDs in security cameras, allowing you to move through modern society in relative privacy. Esta exposición está mostrando alemán luminoso LED infrarrojo dispositivos que superan los CCD en cámaras de seguridad, lo que le permite pasar a través de la sociedad moderna en relativa intimidad. I used this as a gimmick in my story He usado esto como un truco en mi historia I, Robot I, Robot — now I want to own one! -- Quiero ahora a la propiedad de uno!

The URA / FILOART developed device promises to the citizens of a more reliable protection against security measures of the state (and other Überwachenden).In addition to monitoring purposes organised systems interaction between man and machine is still IR.ASC an additional interaction between machines dar. La URA / FILOART dispositivo desarrollado promesas a los ciudadanos de una mayor fiabilidad en la protección contra las medidas de seguridad del Estado (y otros Überwachenden). Además de los efectos de la vigilancia organizado sistemas de interacción entre el hombre y la máquina es todavía más IR.ASC interacción entre máquinas de dar . This absurd accumulation of technology is symptomatic, because although the entire expense of the protection measures for the alleged safety of citizens is made, the person slips on the importance scale of the current security plan ever deeper down. Esta absurda acumulación de la tecnología es sintomático, porque a pesar de toda la costa de las medidas de protección para la supuesta seguridad de los ciudadanos se hace, la persona que se desliza sobre la importancia de la escala actual plan de seguridad cada vez más profunda.

Link ( Thanks, (Gracias, Bill Bill ! ) !)

DNA strings could become the template for nanotubes and nanowires by 2028 Cadenas de ADN podría convertirse en la plantilla de nanotubos y nanocables de 2028

By Por Sharon Gaudin Sharon Gaudin

Looking for a way to continually shrink computer chips while still squeezing more transistors onto them, Buscan una manera de reducir continuamente chips de ordenador mientras sigue apretando más transistores en ellos, IBM scientists are working on a whole new way to build processors — using DNA. Los científicos están trabajando en una nueva forma de construir procesadores - usando ADN.

For the past year and a half, researchers at IBM have been working on creating a new way to make the patterns used to lay out the transistors and wires that go on a chip. Durante el último año y medio, los investigadores de IBM han estado trabajando en la creación de una nueva manera de hacer que los patrones utilizados para establecer los transistores y cables que van en un chip. Today, semiconductor manufacturers use optical lithography, which uses light to transfer the pattern. Hoy en día, los fabricantes de semiconductores uso litografía óptica, que utiliza la luz para transferir el patrón. The problem, according to El problema, según Joe Gordon Joe Gordon , senior manager for materials for advanced technology at IBM, is that it’s difficult to shrink the pattern using today’s techniques. , Administrador superior de los materiales de avanzada tecnología en IBM, es que es difícil para reducir el tamaño del patrón de uso de las técnicas de hoy en día.

And since Gordon said 50% of the improvement in processor performance comes from shrinking the pattern, scientists need to come up with a new way to create the patterns. Y como dice Gordon 50% de la mejora en el rendimiento del procesador proviene de la reducción de la pauta, los científicos necesitan para llegar a una nueva manera de crear los patrones.

That’s where the DNA strands come into play. Ahí es donde las hebras de ADN entran en juego.

“Right now, the industry road map is [that] we’ll get down to 22 nanometer-size features on a chip,” said Gordon. "En este momento, la industria hoja de ruta es [que] nos pondremos a 22 nanómetros de tamaño características en un chip", dijo Gordon. “We’re looking at ways to go down beyond that. "Estamos buscando la manera de bajar más allá de eso. It’s very clear it will be difficult to go smaller than that using the optical lithography we know today. Es muy claro que será difícil ir más pequeña que la que el uso de litografía óptica que hoy conocemos. Using DNA will help us do that.” Utilizando el ADN nos ayudará a hacerlo. "

Greg Wallraff, a staff scientist at IBM, explained that the researchers are laying single molecules of DNA onto the chip’s surface and using them as a template for assembling electronic components, like Greg Wallraff, un personal científico de IBM, explicó que los investigadores, por la que se están único moléculas de ADN en la superficie del chip y utilizarlos como plantilla para el montaje de componentes electrónicos, como nanotubes Nanotubos and Y nanowires Nanocables . The DNA used by the researchers comes from a virus, he added. . El ADN utilizado por los investigadores procede de un virus, añadió.

Wallraff said the IBM research team is working with Wallraff dice el equipo de investigación de IBM está trabajando con California Institute of Technology Instituto de Tecnología de California scientist Científico Paul Rothemund Paul Rothemund , who has developed a way to assemble single molecules of DNA into complex structures. , Que ha desarrollado una manera de ensamblar moléculas individuales de ADN en estructuras complejas. Building on that research, the IBM scientists are trying to wrangle the DNA into usable templates. Sobre la base de que la investigación, los científicos de IBM están intentando discutir el ADN utilizable en las plantillas.

“People say DNA is the blueprint for life,” said Wallraff. "La gente dice que el ADN es el plan maestro para la vida", dijo Wallraff. “The specific structure of DNA has unique features. "La estructura específica de ADN tiene características únicas. It’s basically programmable. Se trata básicamente programables. You can design DNA into unique shapes, with specific attachment sites. Puede diseño único en forma de ADN, con especial apego sitios. Then we pour this DNA solution onto a silicon substrate, and the DNA assembles itself exactly where we want it to on the chip, and then we assemble the components on top of that.” Luego verter esta solución de ADN en un sustrato de silicio, y el ADN reúne en sí exactamente donde queremos que en el chip, y luego ensamblar los componentes, además de ello ".

The attachment sites on DNA, which is where the nanowires and transistors would attach on the template, can be made much closer together than with traditional pattern manufacturing techniques. El archivo adjunto sitios en el ADN, que es donde el nanocables y transistores se atribuyen en la plantilla, se puede hacer mucho más cerca que junto con el patrón tradicional de las técnicas de fabricación. With DNA, the attachment sites are 4nm to 6nm apart. Con el ADN, el archivo adjunto se 4nm sitios a 6nm de separación. Normally, they’re about 45nm apart. Normalmente, son alrededor de 45nm de separación.

“Think of it as tiling a floor. "Piense en ello como un suelo de baldosas. These DNA pieces are like tiles,” explained Gordon. Estas piezas de ADN son como las baldosas ", explicó Gordon. “Each tile has some array of electronic components. "Para ello, sólo tiene cierta gama de componentes electrónicos. Those tiles are placed on a chip in a larger array so there are thousands or millions on a chip. Estas baldosas se colocan en un chip en un conjunto más amplio de modo que hay miles o millones en un chip. The second step, which we don’t know how to do yet, would be to wire them all together. El segundo paso, que no sabemos cómo hacerlo todavía, sería la de alambre de todos ellos juntos. We’ve got sizes well below conventional lithography.” Tenemos tamaños muy por debajo de la litografía convencional ".

Once the nanotubes and wires are laid onto the template, the DNA would be extracted. Una vez que los nanotubos y alambres están establecidos en la plantilla, el ADN se extrajo. Wallraff said millions of the DNA templates would be needed for a single chip. Wallraff dice millones de las plantillas de ADN se necesitaría para un solo chip.

Gordon noted that the research team is far from figuring out the whole process needed to make the DNA model work. Gordon señaló que el equipo de investigación está muy lejos de averiguar todo el proceso necesario para hacer que el modelo de trabajo del ADN. “We don’t have a good picture of exactly how you would do everything,” he said. "No tenemos una buena imagen de cómo usted hará todo lo que esté", dijo. “How do we make the tiles stick together in the right places? "¿Cómo podemos hacer que el baldosas pegadas en los lugares adecuados? Can we get the nanowires to attach to the tiles in the right places? ¿Podemos llegar a los nanocables atribuyen a los azulejos en los lugares adecuados? Can we wire them up?” ¿Podemos alambre usan? "

Wallraff said the next steps will be connect all the tiles together and check the defect levels during assembly. Wallraff dijo que el próximo paso sería conectar todas las fichas juntas y comprobar el defecto de los niveles durante el montaje.

Actually using this pattern technique is probably 10 to 20 years away, he noted. En realidad, utilizando la técnica de este modelo es probablemente de 10 a 20 años de distancia, señaló.

Parliament has never been less vigilant about the many measures to increase Home Office power. El Parlamento nunca ha sido menos vigilantes acerca de las muchas medidas para aumentar Ministerio del poder. In the name of the great democrats of the past, act now En el nombre de los grandes demócratas del pasado, actuar ahora

Henry Porter Henry Porter

Following the convictions of Steve Wright for the murder of five women in Ipswich and of Mark Dixie for the murder of Sally Anne Bowman it was inevitable that one or two MPs would seek to defy the obscurity of their careers with public calls for a full compulsory DNA collection from every living soul in Britain. A raíz de las convicciones de Steve Wright por el asesinato de cinco mujeres en Ipswich y de Mark Dixie por el asesinato de Sally Anne Bowman es inevitable que uno o dos diputados que tratan de desafiar la oscuridad de su carrera con el público pide un pleno obligatorio de ADN Colección alma de todos los que viven en Gran Bretaña.

Martin Salter for Labour said a mandatory database was a logical extension of biometric passports, and a Tory foot soldier, Philip Davies, declared that he was not averse to a national database if it would help police clear up crime. Martin Salter de Trabajo dijo que una base de datos obligatorio era una extensión lógica de los pasaportes biométricos, y un soldado de pie Tory, Philip Davies, declaró que él no se opone a una base de datos nacional si es ayudar a la policía a esclarecer el crimen. With that kind of mental process it is astonishing that this pair can dress themselves in the morning let alone find their way to Parliament. Con este tipo de proceso mental es sorprendente que esta pareja puede vestirse en la mañana y mucho menos encontrar su camino hacia el Parlamento.

The point which must be evident to anyone who looks at the Wright and Dixie convictions for more than a few minutes is that both men had form. El punto que debe ser evidente para cualquiera que mira a la Dixie Wright y condenas por más de unos minutos es que tanto los hombres como había forma. In Wright’s case, DNA had been collected and retained by police because of a conviction for theft. En el caso de Wright, el ADN se habían recogido y conservado por la policía a causa de una condena por robo. In the case of Dixie, DNA was removed after his part in a pub brawl and quickly matched with the sample he left on the body of his victim. En el caso de Dixie, el ADN se ha retirado después de que su parte en un pub reyerta y rápidamente acompañada de la muestra dejó en el cuerpo de su víctima. If his previous sexual offences had been committed during the operation of the database he would have been found more quickly. Si su anterior delitos sexuales se han cometido durante la operación de la base de datos que habría sido encontrados más rápidamente.

But does this support the argument for a mandatory database? Pero, ¿este apoyo el argumento de una base de datos obligatorios? Clearly not, because the damage done to the liberty and privacy of 60 million people would be out of proportion to any gain, to say nothing of the administrative nightmare of collecting everyone’s DNA and the flaws already in the system, which are obscured by the police and the Home Office. Es evidente que no, porque el daño hecho a la libertad ya la intimidad de 60 millones de personas estarían fuera de toda proporción a ganar, por no hablar de la pesadilla administrativa de la recogida de ADN y de todos los defectos que ya están en el sistema, que están oscurecidos por la La policía y el Ministerio del Interior.

The DNA database is not a perfect weapon. La base de datos de ADN no es un arma perfecta. Last year 1,500 administrative mistakes were discovered and at least 100 inaccuracies pertaining to individuals. El pasado año 1500 se descubrieron los errores administrativos y de por lo menos 100 errores relativos a los individuos. That means there is a real possibility of people being convicted of crimes they did not commit. Esto significa que hay una posibilidad real de las personas que están condenados por delitos que no cometieron. Given the chaotic state of government databases, it must be obvious even to Salter and Davies that administrative errors would be vastly increased if the database were to be expanded by a factor of about 13, from 4.5m to 60m. Habida cuenta de la caótica situación de las bases de datos del gobierno, debe ser evidente incluso a Salter Davies y los errores administrativos que sería mucho mayor si la base de datos se ampliará por un factor de aproximadamente 13, a 60m de 4.5m.

What the Wright and Dixie cases do is undermine Liberty’s argument that DNA should only be taken and retained from those who have committed sexual and violent crimes. Lo que los casos Wright y Dixie hacer es socavar la libertad del argumento de que el ADN sólo debe ser tomado y retenido de los que han cometido delitos violentos y sexuales. Admirable though it is, that position is now untenable. Admirable que sea, que ahora la posición es insostenible. Those that see the dangers of the database should withdraw to fight the principle that innocent people, which includes more than 100,000 children, must be allowed to have their DNA removed from the database. Aquellos que ven los peligros de la base de datos debería retirarse para luchar contra el principio de que personas inocentes, que incluye a más de 100000 niños, se debe permitir a su ADN han eliminado de la base de datos. This issue is due to come before the European Court of Human Rights and there is real hope that Britain will be ordered to remove some 565,700 individuals on privacy grounds. Este problema se debe a presentarse ante el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos y existe una esperanza real de que Gran Bretaña se retire la orden de 565700 personas sobre algunos motivos de privacidad. At this news another Tory nincompoop, Richard Ottaway, piped up on Friday to say that we need a national database. En esta otra noticia Tory nincompoop, Richard Ottaway, hilo hasta el viernes para decir que necesitamos una base de datos nacional.

Maybe he was doing no more than addressing the anger of his constituency, where Dixie’s victim lived, yet his comment is evidence that the first principles of a truly free state are little understood by the run-of-the-mill MPs on both sides of the house. Tal vez él no estaba haciendo más que hacer frente a la ira de su circunscripción, en donde la víctima vivía Dixie, sin embargo, su observación es la primera prueba de que los principios de un estado verdaderamente libre son poco comprendidas por el plazo de la fábrica de los parlamentarios de ambas Lados de la casa.

We have an incorrigible, corrupt and incompetent government which - as with so much of the apparatus of the database state - has never even sought to place the DNA database on statutory basis. Tenemos un incorregible, corruptos e incompetentes gobierno que - como sucede con gran parte de los aparatos de la base de datos estatal - incluso nunca ha tratado de poner la base de datos de ADN en base estatutaria. The principles of DNA collection have never been debated or put to the vote. Los principios de la recogida de ADN nunca han sido debatidas o sometidas a votación. How can that be? ¿Cómo puede ser? The answer is that the database state is part of a long-term project devised by the civil service and the high command of New Labour. La respuesta es que la base de datos de estado es parte de un proyecto a largo plazo elaborado por la administración pública y el alto mando del nuevo laborismo. It is far easier to allow a stealthy expansion of surveillance and data collection than bring the issues to parliament and alert us all to the profound threat to our liberty and privacy. Es mucho más fácil permitir que un furtivo ampliación de la vigilancia y la reunión de datos que aportan las cuestiones que el Parlamento y alerta a todos a la profunda amenaza a la libertad y nuestra privacidad. That is why our gravest contempt must be reserved for opposition MPs such as Davies and Ottaway, whose duty must be to publicise and fight the drastic changes being wrought by New Labour on British democracy. Por ello, nuestro desprecio más graves deben reservarse para los parlamentarios de oposición, como Davies y Ottaway, cuyo deber es dar a conocer y combatir a los cambios drásticos que se causada por el Nuevo Laborismo en la democracia británica. Instead, they dance to the tune of the Murdoch press and lift their skirts to the sinister forces in the Home Office. En lugar de ello, la danza a la melodía de la prensa Murdoch y levantar sus faldas a las siniestras fuerzas en el Ministerio del Interior. Pathetic. Patético.

An absence of two months from these pages has made me step back and see the changes to our society with even greater anxiety. Una ausencia de dos meses a partir de estas páginas me ha hecho un paso atrás y ver los cambios de nuestra sociedad con mayor ansiedad. Only yesterday it was revealed in our sister paper, the Guardian, that the British government, alone among 27 members of the EU, wants the system of data collection - including mobile phone numbers and credit card details - affecting travellers in Europe to include sea and rail travel, all domestic flights and those between EU countries. Ayer se reveló en nuestra hermana papel, el Guardian, que el gobierno británico, por sí solo de los 27 miembros de la UE, quiere que el sistema de recopilación de datos - incluyendo números de teléfono móvil y la tarjeta de crédito - que afectan a los viajeros en Europa para incluir el mar y Transporte ferroviario, todos los vuelos nacionales y entre los países de la UE. The crucial point is that Britain wants this information not just for fighting terror and organised crime but for general surveillance. El punto fundamental es que Gran Bretaña quiere que esta información no sólo para la lucha contra el terror y la delincuencia organizada, sino de la vigilancia general. The phrase used by our government in the questionnaire circulated to all member states is ‘more general public policy purposes’. La frase utilizada por nuestro gobierno en el cuestionario distribuido a todos los estados miembros es' más generales de política pública ».

I have always sought to make the distinction between the controlled state being brought about by New Labour and ideas of a police state. Siempre he tratado de hacer la distinción entre el estado están controlados provocados por el Nuevo Laborismo y de las ideas de un estado policial. But the thought of these ‘general public policy purposes’ causes a shiver to pass up my spine and makes me wonder if I have mistaken the urges that lurk in the dark heart of the political establishment. Pero el pensamiento de estos "fines generales de la política pública 'causa un escalofrío a pasar mi columna vertebral y me pregunto si me he equivocado la insta a que acechan en la oscuridad del corazón de la política. So let’s be quite clear. Entonces, vamos a ser muy claros. This phrase predicates a police state. Esta frase predicados un estado policial.

In the name of the great democrats who have occupied the benches in the House of Commons down the ages, what right has the government to know my credit card number, my cell phone number, my destination, or even when I take a trip abroad, or catch the plane to Inverness? En el nombre de los grandes demócratas que han ocupado los escaños en la Cámara de los Comunes por la edad, ¿qué derecho tiene el gobierno para saber cuál es mi número de tarjeta de crédito, mi número de teléfono móvil, mi destino, o incluso cuando me tome un viaje en el extranjero, O coger el avión a Inverness? Has this been debated in Parliament? ¿Se ha debatido en el Parlamento? No. Are there plans to drag ministers and civil servants in front of the select committees to examine and expose them. No ¿Hay planes para arrastrar los ministros y funcionarios públicos en frente de los comités para examinar y exponerlos. Not as far as I can discover, and that is what gives me these dreadful intimations of the future. No en la medida de lo que puedo descubrir, y eso es lo que me da estos terribles intimations del futuro. Parliament has never been less vigilant or more feckless in the face of these numerous unsanctioned measures that steadily accumulate to increase state power. El Parlamento nunca ha sido más o menos vigilantes feckless en la cara de estas numerosas medidas no autorizadas que se acumulan de manera constante para aumentar el poder estatal.

If you want to know how Britain will be in 20 years’ time, the best place to look is the legislation affecting children. Si quieres saber cómo se Bretaña en un plazo de 20 años, el mejor lugar para mirar es la legislación que afectan a los niños. An excellent report produced by, among others, Action on Rights for Children, Liberty, the Open Rights Group and No2ID, paints a horrific picture of the intensive surveillance of our children who are being conditioned to tolerate the collection of biometric data (fingerprints for library use) and the endless attention of these faceless monitors. Un excelente informe elaborado por, entre otros, Acción sobre Derechos de la Infancia, la libertad, la Open Rights Group y No2ID, pinta un horrendo panorama de la vigilancia intensiva de nuestros niños que se están condicionadas a tolerar la recogida de datos biométricos (huellas digitales de la biblioteca Uso) y de la atención de estos interminables rostro monitores.

A new database is planned which will contain the details of every 14-year-old child in England and Wales, his or her exam results, difficulties within and outside the family - literally everything. Una nueva base de datos está previsto que contendrá los detalles de cada 14 años de edad en Inglaterra y el País de Gales, su examen de los resultados, las dificultades dentro y fuera de la familia -, literalmente, de todo. And by the time they all reach adulthood, the databases will have merged to give the state complete access to their most personal information. Y en el momento en que todos lleguen a la edad adulta, las bases de datos se han fusionado para dar el estado completo acceso a la mayoría de su información personal. No child will be able to escape his past, or the judgment and watchfulness of the bureaucrats who may decide their destiny. Ningún niño será capaz de escapar de su pasado, o de la sentencia y vigilancia de los burócratas, que podrá decidir su destino. Little wonder that in his dim way the Martin Salter concluded that DNA ought to be added to this great pool of information. No es de extrañar que, a su modo, el dim Martin Salter llegó a la conclusión de que el ADN debe ser añadido a esta gran reserva de la información. The state will know everything about us so why not allow it dominion over our biological essence too? El estado sabrá todo sobre nosotros, ¿por qué no permitir que el dominio de nuestra esencia biológica demasiado?

I estimate that we have just one chance to turn the tide on these trends - the next general election. Calculo que tenemos sólo una oportunidad de cambiar el rumbo de estas tendencias - la próxima elección general. We can rely on the Liberal Democrats but it will be important to know where the Conservatives stand. Podemos confiar en los demócratas liberales, pero es importante saber dónde están los conservadores. Let’s hope that real democrats in their number, such as David Davis and Dominic Grieve, will persuade the likes of Ottaway and Philip Davies to think before they speak, or at least shut the hell up. Vamos a la esperanza real de que los demócratas en su número, como David Davis y Dominic Grieve, persuadir a los gustos de Ottaway y Philip Davies a pensar antes de hablar, o por lo menos cerrar el infierno.

Phone numbers and credit card data to be collected under expanded EU plan Los números de teléfono y de tarjeta de crédito los datos que se recojan en virtud de plan de la UE ampliada

Airline passengers will be monitored at every stage of their journey under the proposals. Los pasajeros de líneas aéreas se supervisará en cada etapa de su viaje en virtud de las propuestas. Photograph: David Levene Fotografía: David Levene

Ian Traynor Ian Traynor

Passengers travelling between EU countries or taking domestic flights would have to hand over a mass of personal information, including their mobile phone numbers and credit card details, as part of a new package of security measures being demanded by the British government. Los pasajeros que viajen entre países de la UE o tomar vuelos nacionales tendrían que entregar una masa de información personal, incluyendo sus números de teléfono móvil y la tarjeta de crédito, como parte de un nuevo paquete de medidas de seguridad que se exigen por el gobierno británico. The data would be stored for 13 years and used to “profile” suspects. Los datos se almacenan durante 13 años y se usa para "perfil" sospechosos.

Brussels officials are already considering controversial anti-terror plans that would collect up to 19 pieces of information on every air passenger entering or leaving the EU. Los funcionarios de Bruselas ya están examinando controversiales planes de lucha contra el terrorismo que se recogen hasta 19 piezas de información sobre todos los pasajeros aéreos que entran o salen de la UE. Under a controversial agreement reached last summer with the US department of homeland security, the EU already supplies the same information [19 pieces] to Washington for all passengers flying between Europe and the US. En virtud de un controvertido acuerdo alcanzado el pasado verano con los EE.UU. departamento de la seguridad interior, la Unión Europea ya los suministros de la misma información [19 piezas] a Washington para todos los pasajeros de vuelo entre Europa y los EE.UU..

But Britain wants the system extended to sea and rail travel, to be applied to domestic flights and those between EU countries. Pero Gran Bretaña quiere que el sistema de ampliarse a los transportes marítimo y ferroviario de viaje, que se aplicará a los vuelos nacionales y entre los países de la UE. According to a questionnaire circulated to all EU capitals by the European commission, the UK is the only country of 27 EU member states that wants the system used for “more general public policy purposes” besides fighting terrorism and organised crime. De acuerdo a un cuestionario distribuido a todas las capitales de la UE por la Comisión Europea, el Reino Unido es el único país de 27 estados miembros de la UE quiere que el sistema utilizado por "más general de los objetivos de la política pública", además de la lucha contra el terrorismo y la delincuencia organizada.

The so-called passenger name record system, proposed by the commission and supported by most EU governments, has been denounced by civil libertarians and data protection officials as draconian and probably ineffective. El llamado sistema de registro de nombres de pasajeros, propuestas por la comisión y con el apoyo de la mayoría de los gobiernos de la UE, ha sido denunciado por libertarios civiles y la protección de los datos oficiales como draconianas y probablemente ineficaz.

The scheme would work through national agencies collecting and processing the passenger data and then sharing it with other EU states. El plan de trabajo a través de los organismos nacionales de recogida y tratamiento de los datos de pasajeros y luego compartirlo con los demás Estados de la UE. Britain also wants to be able to exchange the information with third parties outside the EU. Gran Bretaña también quiere ser capaz de intercambiar la información con terceros fuera de la UE.

Officials in Brussels and in European capitals admit the proposed system represents a massive intrusion into European civil liberties, but insist it is a necessary part of a battery of new electronic surveillance measures being mooted in the interests of European security. Los funcionarios en Bruselas y en las capitales europeas admitir el sistema propuesto representa una enorme intrusión en las libertades civiles de Europa, pero insisto en que es una parte necesaria de una batería de nuevas medidas de vigilancia electrónica está planteada en el interés de la seguridad europea. These include proposals unveiled in Brussels last week for fingerprinting and collecting biometric information of all non-EU nationals entering or leaving the union. Estos incluyen propuestas presentado en Bruselas la semana pasada para la toma de huellas dactilares y la recolección de datos biométricos de todos los no ciudadanos de la UE entren o salgan de la unión.

All airlines would provide government agencies with 19 pieces of information on every passenger, including mobile phone number and credit card details. Todas las líneas aéreas que proporcionen los organismos gubernamentales con 19 piezas de información sobre todos los pasajeros, incluidos número de teléfono móvil y la tarjeta de crédito. The system would work by “running the data against a combination of characteristics and behavioural patterns aimed at creating a risk assessment”, according to the draft legislation. El sistema de trabajo por "correr en contra de los datos de una combinación de las características y pautas de comportamiento encaminadas a la creación de una evaluación del riesgo", según el proyecto de ley.

“When a passenger fits within a certain risk assessment, he could be identified as a high-risk passenger.” "Cuando un pasajero se ajusta dentro de un determinado evaluación de los riesgos, que podrían ser identificadas como de alto riesgo de pasajeros."

A working party of European data protection officials described the proposal as “a further milestone towards a European surveillance society. Un grupo de trabajo de los funcionarios europeos de protección de datos se describe la propuesta como "un nuevo hito en el camino hacia la sociedad europea de vigilancia.

“The draft foresees the collection of a vast amount of personal data of all passengers flying into or out of the EU regardless of whether they are under suspicion or innocent travellers. "El proyecto prevé la recopilación de una gran cantidad de datos personales de todos los pasajeros de vuelo dentro o fuera de la UE, independientemente de si están bajo sospecha o inocentes viajeros. These data will then be stored for a period of 13 years to allow for profiling. Estos datos se almacenan por un período de 13 años para permitir perfiles. The profiling of all passengers envisaged by the current proposal might raise constitutional concerns in some member states.” Los perfiles de todos los pasajeros previstas por la actual propuesta constitucional podría suscitar preocupaciones en algunos Estados miembros. "

The Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said: “Where is this going to stop? El eurodiputado liberal demócrata Sarah Ludford dijo: "¿Dónde está yendo a parar esta? There’s no mature discussion of risk. No existe un debate maduro de riesgo. As soon as you question something like this, you’re soft on terrorism in the UK and in the EU.” En el momento en que se trate de algo como esto, que está suave sobre el terrorismo en el Reino Unido y en la UE. "

Britain is pushing for a more comprehensive system based on the experience of a UK pilot scheme that has been running for the past three years. Gran Bretaña está presionando para que un sistema más amplio basado en la experiencia del Reino Unido de un plan piloto que ha estado en funcionamiento durante los últimos tres años. Officials say Operation Semaphore, monitoring flights from Pakistan and the Middle East, has been highly successful and has resulted in hundreds of arrests. Funcionarios Operación Semáforo decir, el seguimiento de vuelos procedentes de Pakistán y el Medio Oriente, ha tenido un gran éxito y ha resultado en cientos de detenciones.

The scheme has seen one in every 2,200 passengers warranting further investigation, with a tenth of those “being of interest”. El plan ha sido testigo de una de cada 2200 pasajeros que justifican una investigación más a fondo, con una décima parte de los que "ser de interés". British officials say rapists, drug smugglers and child traffickers have been arrested and want the EU scheme to cover “all fugitives from crown court justice”. Funcionarios británicos dicen los violadores, traficantes de drogas y los tratantes de niños han sido detenidos y quiere que el plan de la UE para cubrir "todos los prófugos de la corona de los tribunales de justicia".

But Ludford said: “If you ask the UK government how many terrorists have been picked up, I don’t think you get a very straight answer.” Pero Ludford dijo: "Si usted le pide el gobierno del Reino Unido el número de los terroristas han sido recogidos, no creo que usted consigue una respuesta muy recto".

EU officials have asked the Home Office minister Meg Hillier for information about the arrests of suspected terrorists. Funcionarios de la UE han pedido a la Oficina ministro Meg Hillier para obtener información sobre la detención de sospechosos de terrorismo.

The Bush administration said on Saturday US telecommunications companies have agreed to cooperate “for the time being” with spy agencies’ wiretaps, despite an ongoing battle between the White House and Congress over new terrorism surveillance legislation. The Justice Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying wiretaps will resume under the current law “at least for now.” La administración Bush dijo el sábado EE.UU. las empresas de telecomunicaciones han acordado cooperar "por el momento" con espía de los organismos de escuchas telefónicas, pese a una batalla en curso entre la Casa Blanca y el Congreso sobre la nueva legislación de vigilancia terrorismo. El Departamento de Justicia y la Oficina del Director De Inteligencia Nacional emitieron una declaración conjunta diciendo escuchas telefónicas se reanudará en virtud de la actual ley ", al menos por ahora."

“Although our private partners are cooperating for the time being, they have expressed understandable misgivings about doing so in light of the ongoing uncertainty and have indicated they may well discontinue cooperation if the uncertainty persists,” the statement said. "A pesar de nuestros socios privados están cooperando por el momento, se han expresado dudas acerca de hacer comprensible a la luz de la actual incertidumbre y han indicado que podría suspender cooperación si persiste la incertidumbre", dice la declaración.

On Friday US Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell said telecommunications firms have been reluctant to cooperate with new wiretaps since six-month temporary legislation expired last weekend. El viernes EE.UU. Michael Mukasey Fiscal General y Director de Inteligencia Nacional, dijo Michael McConnell empresas de telecomunicaciones se han mostrado renuentes a cooperar con las nuevas escuchas telefónicas de seis meses desde la legislación temporal expiró el pasado fin de semana. As a result, they told Congress, spy agencies have missed intelligence. Como resultado de ello, dijo que el Congreso, los organismos de espionaje de inteligencia han perdido.

Democrats accused the Bush administration of fear-mongering and blamed it for any gaps. Los demócratas acusaron a la administración Bush de tráfico y el miedo-que acusó de las lagunas.

President George W. Bush has said he would not compromise with the Democratic-led Congress on his demand that phone companies be shielded from lawsuits for taking part in his warrantless domestic spying program. El Presidente George W. Bush ha dicho que no comprometería con el Democrática dirigida por el Congreso en su demanda de las compañías de teléfono que se le proteja contra demandas judiciales por participar en su programa de espionaje interno sin mandamiento.

The measure passed by the Senate would provide retroactive lawsuit immunity to firms which cooperated with warrantless wiretaps that Bush authorized after the September 11 attacks. La medida aprobada por el Senado daría inmunidad judicial retroactiva a las empresas que cooperaron con escuchas telefónicas sin mandamiento que Bush autorizó tras los ataques del 11 de septiembre. But the House of Representatives has opposed it, and Democratic leaders of both chambers said they would try to find a compromise. Pero la Cámara de Representantes se ha opuesto a ella, y Democrática dirigentes de ambas cámaras, dijeron que tratan de encontrar una solución de compromiso.

Democratic leaders of congressional intelligence and judiciary committees issued a statement on Friday saying they were committed to passing new legislation and urged Bush to support an extension of the temporary law. Los dirigentes democráticos del Congreso de los comités judiciales y de inteligencia emitió una declaración el viernes diciendo que se habían comprometido a pasar una nueva legislación e instó a Bush a apoyar una extensión de la ley temporal. Bush has said he would hold out for a permanent overhaul of the 1978 surveillance law. Bush ha dicho que celebrará a una permanente revisión de la ley de vigilancia de 1978.

© Reuters 2008 All rights reserved © 2008 Reuters Todos los derechos reservados

The future security of every family and child in the country has been compromised by the recent loss of child benefit details. La seguridad futura de la familia y de cada niño en el país se ha visto afectada por la reciente pérdida de prestaciones para la infancia detalles.

News of further electronic data losses has only reinforced the threat to our privacy. Noticias de datos electrónicos más pérdidas sólo ha reforzado la amenaza a nuestra privacidad.

But what will the long-term consequences be? Pero lo que las consecuencias a largo plazo?

Identity theft is a real and growing problem. El robo de identidad es un problema real y creciente.

The Government would have us believe that ID cards and biometric identification will solve the problem. El Gobierno nos quiere hacer creer que los documentos de identidad y de identificación biométrica va a solucionar el problema. In fact, it will make things worse. De hecho, es empeorar las cosas.

You can change your pin number but you can’t change your fingerprints. Usted puede cambiar su número PIN, pero no puede cambiar sus huellas digitales.

Once on the National Database, not just your bank details but everything about you is vulnerable to theft. Una vez en la Base de Datos Nacional, y no sólo sus datos bancarios, pero sobre todo lo que es vulnerable a los robos.

All but three of the country’s 69 new ‘interrogation centres’ are now open. Todos menos tres de los 69 países nuevos "centros de interrogatorios" se han abierto.

People applying for their first adult passport are already being called in. Soon those renewing their passports will also have to attend. Personas de solicitar su primer pasaporte de adultos ya están siendo llamados aquellos pulg Poco renovar sus pasaportes también tendrá que participar en la reunión.

Plans to simultaneously issue ID cards have been quietly shelved until after the next General Election. Planes cuestión a la vez tarjetas de identificación han sido dejados de lado en silencio hasta después de la próxima elección general.

However, young people (students applying for loans, for example) will be ‘persuaded’ (that is, bribed) to have an ID card in the near future. Sin embargo, los jóvenes (estudiantes de la aplicación de los préstamos, por ejemplo) será 'persuadir' (es decir, sobornado) de tener una tarjeta de identificación en un futuro próximo.

Meanwhile, the first GP surgeries have started uploading confidential patient records on to the NHS database (”The Spine”), and increasingly, schools are fingerprinting children as young as four (for registration, lunches, library books), often without parents’ permission or even knowledge. Mientras tanto, el primer GP de cirugías han comenzado a subir confidencial de los pacientes a los registros de la base de datos del NHS ( "The Spine"), y cada vez más, las escuelas son las huellas dactilares niños de tan sólo cuatro (de registro, almuerzos, libros de la biblioteca), a menudo los padres sin el permiso O incluso el conocimiento.

Children are growing up believing it is normal to be fingerprinted having done nothing wrong. Los niños crecen creyendo que es normal que se huellas dactilares haber hecho nada malo. This must stop. Esto tiene que acabar.

For further information, visit Para más información, visite http://www.leavethemkidsalone.com Http://www.leavethemkidsalone.com or O www.no2id.net Www.no2id.net

Stephen Nash Washington Terrace Middle Barton Stephen Nash Washington terraza Medio Barton

Washington warns that the recently-developed high-tech virtual fence on the US-Mexican border is fully prepared to tackle any form of illegal crossings. Washington advierte de que la recientemente desarrollada de alta tecnología virtual en los EE.UU. valla-frontera mexicana está totalmente preparado para hacer frente a cualquier forma de cruces ilegales.

The $20 million ‘Project 28′ features cutting-edge sensor towers and advanced mobile communications on a 45-km stretch of the southern border near Nogales, Arizona. Los $ 20 millones de 'Proyecto 28' características de vanguardia y torres de sensores avanzados de comunicaciones móviles en un tramo de 45 kilometros de la frontera meridional, cerca de Nogales, Arizona.

“I have personally witnessed the value of this system, and I have spoken directly to the Border Patrol agents … who have seen it produce actual results, in terms of identifying and allowing the apprehension of people who were illegally smuggling across the border,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Yo he presenciado personalmente el valor de este sistema, y he hablado directamente a los agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza… que se han visto los resultados reales de producir, en términos de la identificación y que permite la detención de personas que fueron ilegalmente de contrabando a través de la frontera", dijo Secretario de Seguridad de la Patria, Michael Chertoff.

Chertoff anticipated the high-tech surveillance equipments would finally put a stop to the highly charged political issue of immigration. Chertoff se anticipó a la alta tecnología de vigilancia de los equipos que finalmente poner fin a la política altamente cargada tema de la inmigración.

Rep. Bennie Thompson who heads the House of Representatives Homeland Security committee, however, criticized the plan for relying too much on contractors and barring Border Patrol agents from highlighting the ‘obvious flaws’. Rep Bennie Thompson, que dirige la Cámara de Representantes de Seguridad de la Patria comité, sin embargo, criticó el plan para confiar demasiado en contratistas y de restricción de agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza de relieve la 'defectos obvios ".

“I would hope that they (Homeland Security officials) have learned from these mistakes,” he said. "Espero que ellos (los funcionarios de Seguridad de la Patria) han aprendido de esos errores", dijo.

SBB/RA SBB / RA

Without protection against lawsuits, are the telecoms less willing to cooperate with government spying efforts? Sin protección contra demandas judiciales, las telecomunicaciones son los menos dispuestos a cooperar con los esfuerzos del gobierno espiar?

By Por Mark Hosenball Mark Hosenball | Newsweek | Newsweek

It’s been barely a week since the Democratic-controlled Congress allowed a temporary electronic spying law to lapse. Ha sido apenas una semana desde que el Congreso controlado por Democrática permitido que un temporal de espionaje electrónico de la expiración de la ley. But US intelligence agencies are already encountering problems maintaining and expanding vital operations, the Bush administration claims. Pero EE.UU. ya los organismos de inteligencia se encuentran una serie de problemas vitales mantenimiento y la ampliación de las operaciones, la administración Bush reclamaciones.

In a letter sent late on Friday to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, En una carta enviada a última hora del viernes a la Casa de Inteligencia presidente de la Comisión de Silvestre Reyes, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell Director Nacional de Inteligencia Mike McConnell and Y Attorney General Michael Mukasey Fiscal General Michael Mukasey claimed that in the six days since the temporary law expired, some “partners” in intelligence operations have “reduced cooperation.” According to two government officials, who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive material, the “partners” referred to in the letter are (unnamed) US telecommunications companies, who-with administration backing-have been aggressively lobbying Congress for a controversial clause in new electronic spying legislation. Afirmó que en los seis días desde que expiró la ley temporal, algunos "socios" en operaciones de inteligencia tienen "la reducción de la cooperación." De acuerdo a dos funcionarios del gobierno, que pidió el anonimato cuando se habla de material sensible, la "socios" que se menciona en la carta son (Sin nombre) EE.UU. las empresas de telecomunicaciones, que-con el respaldo de la administración han sido agresivamente el cabildeo para un polémico Congreso en la nueva cláusula de espionaje electrónico de la legislación. The clause would effectively wipe out a series of private lawsuits seeking damages against the telecoms for their cooperation with what civil libertarians and administration critics claim was an illegal expansion of electronic spying against targets inside the US-an expansion authorized by La cláusula efectivamente eliminar una serie de demandas privadas reclamación de daños y perjuicios en contra de las telecomunicaciones por su cooperación con lo que la administración civil y libertarios críticos afirman fue una expansión ilegal de espionaje electrónico contra objetivos dentro de los EE.UU.-una ampliación autorizada por President Bush Presidente Bush in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. En la raíz del 9 / 11 ataques.

In their En su letter Carta , McConnell and Mukasey claim that since the so-called Protect America Act lapsed, partners “have delayed or refused compliance with our requests to initiate new surveillances of terrorist and other foreign intelligence targets under existing directives issued pursuant to the Protect America Act.” , McConnell y Mukasey afirmación de que desde la llamada Ley de Protección de América cayeron en desuso, los socios "han demorado o negado el cumplimiento de nuestras peticiones para iniciar nuevas surveillances de terroristas extranjeros de inteligencia y otros objetivos en virtud de las directivas existentes, expedidas de conformidad con la Ley de Protección de América."

The letter continues: “Although most partners intend to cooperate for the time being, they have expressed deep misgivings about doing so in light of the uncertainty and have indicated that they may well cease to cooperate if the uncertainty persists.” La carta continúa: "Aunque la mayoría de socios de la intención de cooperar por el momento, han expresado profundas dudas acerca de ello a la luz de la incertidumbre y han indicado que podría dejar de cooperar si persiste la incertidumbre".
Mukasey and McConnell say that they are currently “working to mitigate these problems and are hopeful that our efforts will be successful.” But they add that unless Congress passes a version of a new electronic surveillance bill, approved by the Senate, which includes the controversial retroactive lawsuit immunity for telecom companies, “the broader uncertainty caused” by the temporary spy law’s expiration “will persist.” The letter adds that: “This uncertainty may well continue to cause us to miss information that we otherwise would be collecting.” Mukasey and McConnell say that they are currently “working to mitigate these problems and are hopeful that our efforts will be successful.” But they add that unless Congress passes a version of a new electronic surveillance bill, approved by the Senate, which includes the controversial retroactive lawsuit immunity for telecom companies, “the broader uncertainty caused” by the temporary spy law’s expiration “will persist.” The letter adds that: “This uncertainty may well continue to cause us to miss information that we otherwise would be collecting. "

The letter amounts to a stepping-up of pressure on Democrats in Congress–and in the House in particular–to pass a surveillance bill to the liking of the White House and the telecom industry.

A majority in the Senate, with the backing of Democratic Senate Intelligence Committee chair Jay Rockefeller, approved a bill which would extend many provisions of the electronic surveillance law that recently expired. That legislation, which was opposed by a small group of liberal senators, would also give the telecoms the retroactive immunity they are seeking.

The administration and the Senate majority pressured the House to go along with the Senate bill. But the House approved a version which contained additional civil-liberties protections-and omitted any retroactive immunity for the telecoms. That left Congress deadlocked; the White House has indicated President Bush will veto any version of a new surveillance law that does not include the immunity provision.

The letter from Mukasey and McConnell does not spell out precisely what kind of new intelligence operations are being thwarted because of the congressional impasse. And administration critics, including Rep. Reyes, have recently accused the administration and its supporters of exaggerating the threat to current intelligence activities caused by the congressional standoff.

Administration critics note that eavesdropping operations undertaken under the intel law which just lapsed are allowed to continue for 12 months after they were first authorized. However, administration officials claim the telecoms are nervous that the situation leaves them with insufficient protection against new private lawsuits.

In a statement released late Friday, Reyes, Rockefeller and several other Democrats lashed out at the White House’s tactics. “Further politicizing the debate, the administration today announced that they believe there have been gaps in security since the Protect America Act expired. They cannot have it both ways; if it is true that the expiration of the PAA has caused gaps in intelligence, then it was irresponsible for the President and congressional Republicans to openly oppose an extension of the law. Accordingly, they should join Democrats in extending it until we can resolve our differences.”

© 2008 Newsweek, Inc.

Normally, I’m all for what Uncle Sam needs to do in order to maintain National Security … so long as it doesn’t go too far. The question is, with this story in Hack N Mod , has Uncle Sam (and Dell Computers) gone a bridge too far in surveilling America?

Big Brother is indeed watching you, my friends … One man found a keylogger connected to the integrated Ethernet board of his Dell PC.

The story goes on to state that Dell gave him a nondescript reply and after consulting local law enforcement, he made a FOIA request regarding it. The reply is interesting, but may not be the entire story. Not everything is black helicopters and wiretaps.

On it’s face, it appears that Dell Computer may be participating in a felony by installing hardware keyloggers in their Dell Laptops. However, there are some real world applications for a hardware keylogger … such as information security on business laptops and backup potential in the event of a catastrophic software or hard drive failure. And one comfort is that according Keyghost , the makers of the keylogger, only an administrator can access the log, which only records up to 128,000 characters. , the makers of the keylogger, only an administrator can access the log, which only records up to 128000 characters. Then there’s the deterrant capability that if employees know that a keylogger is installed on their business computers, they won’t use those computers for unauthorized or nefarious uses.

It could be a mistake of distribution, or deliberate design meant to accommodate their business customers. But if Dell is installing these in all their laptops and not advising their customers with an option to have it removed, then perhaps they are indeed violating a customer’s rights.

Copyright 2005-2008 Sagecroft Technologies

Richard Ford

More than half the population supports the Government’s controversial identity card scheme, according to a survey for the Home Office.

Sixty-one per cent of people agree strongly or slightly with the £5.75 billion scheme, with 20 per cent disagreeing strongly or slightly. The number of people unhappy with the project because they believe it would infringe their personal freedom has fallen.

More than 2,000 people over 16 were interviewed. The researchers found that the number of people who believe that the scheme will prevent illegal immigration has jumped from 23 per cent to 32 per cent. Just 16 per cent of people believe it will prevent fraud.

The research, the most recent available, was carried out before HM Revenue and Customs lost two CDs containing the personal details of 25 million people.

The scheme is one of three huge projects that will allow the Government to keep a closer check on citizens. The national identity register will contain individuals’ full names, other names by which they have been known, date of birth, place of birth, gender, the address of principal residence in the United Kingdom and the address of every other place in Britain or elsewhere where they have a place of residence and nationality. The national identity register will contain individuals’ full names, other names by which they have been known, date of birth, place of birth, gender, the address of principal residence in the United Kingdom and the address of every other place in Britain or elsewhere where they have a place of residence and nationality. A separate database will contain fingerprints and a person’s photograph.

Two national databases are also underway: the NHS Care Records Service and the Children’s Database.

Connecting for Health will involve uploading medical records for more than 50 million patients on to an online database, allowing information to be shared among health care professionals. The NHS Care Records Service will contain a limited amount of essential information that can be combined with locally held care information. Patients will mostly be identified by summary care records containing only a few personal details. Their full medical history will only be available to doctors involved in their treatment using chip-and-PIN cards, which require a six-digit code to access some parts of the system.

In September a national children’s database is due to be set up containing the details of every child in England and Wales. Ministers say that details on all families are needed so that children’s services can contact one another. Details held will include names, addresses, schools, GP details, and other services involving each child.

Town hall officials, charity workers and even careers advisers will have access to the database, along with doctors, social workers and teachers.

The decision to set up the database was made after the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié in 2000, which uncovered communication problems between schools, social workers and GPs.

Existing databases hold huge amounts of information on citizens. One of the biggest is the Department for Work and Pensions customer information system, which holds about 85 million records, including the personal details of anyone with a national insurance number. It has the full income and personal details of anyone in receipt of benefits, including 11.5 million with state pensions, 2.65 million on incapacity benefits and 4 million who claim either pension credit or income support.

A database at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency holds the names, addresses, driving licence and vehicle details of 42 million drivers.

The Passport Agency has the records of 80 million passports issued, including the 47 million that are currently valid. It holds names, addresses, date and place of birth of applicants.

Revenue & Customs holds the names and addresses of six million people who make tax credit claims, the names, addresses and national insurance and salary details of the 30.5 million people who pay income tax and the details of 25 million people who receive child benefit.

Losing streak

September 2007 GMRC lost a CD with national insurance and pension details of 15,000 people September 2007 GMRC lost a CD with national insurance and pension details of 15000 people
October Laptop containing data on 2,000 ISA-holders stolen October Laptop containing data on 2000 ISA-holders stolen
November Two CDs with details of 25 million people lost in post
December Four CDs with court case details missing; laptop with data of 60,000 people stolen from Citizens Advice Bureau; details of three million learner-drivers lost; data on 6,500 pension-holders lost December Four CDs with court case details missing; laptop with data of 60000 people stolen from Citizens Advice Bureau; details of three million learner-drivers lost; data on 6500 pension-holders lost
January 2008 Laptop containing details of 600,000 people stolen; details of 1,500 students lost January 2008 Laptop containing details of 600000 people stolen; details of 1500 students lost

Source: Times database

Senate Passes Bill to Expand US Spying Powers

By ERIC LICHTBLAU

After more than a year of heated political wrangling, the Senate handed the White House a major victory Tuesday by voting to broaden the government’s spy powers after giving legal protection to phone companies that cooperated in President Bush’s warrantless eavesdropping program.

The Senate rejected a series of amendments that would have restricted the government’s surveillance powers and eliminated immunity for the phone carriers, and it voted in convincing fashion — 69 to 29 — to end debate and bring the issue to a final vote. That vote on the overall bill was an almost identical 68 to 29.

The House has already rejected the idea of immunity for the phone companies, and Democratic leaders reacted angrily to the Senate vote. But Congressional officials said it appeared that the House would ultimately be forced to accept some sort of legal protection for the phone carriers in negotiations between the two chambers this week.

The Senate debate amounted to a proxy vote not only on the president’s warrantless wiretapping program, but also on a range of other issues that tested the president’s wartime authority, from secret detentions to wiretapping issues. The discussion in effect presaged the debate over national security that will play out this year in the presidential and congressional elections.

Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, who spoke on the Senate floor for more than 20 hours in an unsuccessful effort to stall the wiretapping bill, said the vote would be remembered by future generations as a test of whether the country heeds “the rule of law or the rule of men.” of Connecticut, who spoke on the Senate floor for more than 20 hours in an unsuccessful effort to stall the wiretapping bill, said the vote would be remembered by future generations as a test of whether the country heeds “the rule of law or the rule of men.”

But with Democrats defecting to the White House plan, he acknowledged that the national security issue had won the day in the Senate, even among many of his Democratic colleagues. “Unfortunately, those who are advocating this notion that you have to give up liberties to be more secure are apparently prevailing,” Mr. Dodd said. “They’re convincing people that we’re at risk either politically, or at risk as a nation.”

With resistance led by Mr. Dodd and Senators Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, critics of the administration’s plan argued that it effectively rewarded phone companies by providing them with legal insulation for actions that violated longstanding law and their own fiduciary responsibilities to their customers. Immunity would protect the phone companies from some 40 lawsuits now pending that charge the firms broke the law by taking part in the program.

But supporters of the plan said the phone carriers acted out of patriotism after the Sept. 11 attacks in complying with what they believed in good faith was a legally binding order from the president. Republicans were able to garner the support of 19 Democrats and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut. Democratic leaders charged that the tactics the Republicans used smacked of fear-mongering.

“This, I believe, is the right way to go for the security of the nation,” said Senator John D. Rockefeller IV , the West Virginia Democrat who leads the intelligence committee and who was a pivotal supporter of the White House-backed plan approved Tuesday.

Beyond the immunity provision, the Senate measure would also widen the executive branch’s surveillance powers by allowing the National Security Agency and intelligence agencies to use broad orders — without getting court orders in advance — to eavesdrop on groups of overseas targets, rather than using individualized warrants.

In a judgment made public late Friday, a Federal Court judge denied a request from Canada’s spy agency to conduct electronic intercepts on 10 suspects outside Canada.The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) was permitted to investigate the suspects - nine of whom are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or refugees - inside Canada but the Federal Court judgment denied its request to pursue the suspects through electronic surveillance when they left Canadian shores. In a judgment made public late Friday, a Federal Court judge denied a request from Canada’s spy agency to conduct electronic intercepts on 10 suspects outside Canada.The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) was permitted to investigate the suspects - nine of whom are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or refugees - inside Canada but the Federal Court judgment denied its request to pursue the suspects through electronic surveillance when they left Canadian shores.

“I find that the court is without the jurisdiction to issue the warrant sought. Accordingly, the application will be dismissed,” Justice Edmond Blanchard wrote in the judgment.

The ruling stated that the Federal Court was not able to authorize the warrants sought for investigative activities to be conducted by agents for CSIS in a country other than Canada.

“I am not persuaded that in the national security context, the practice of intelligence gathering operations in foreign states is recognized as a customary practice in international law,” wrote Justice Blanchard.

CSIS will reportedly not appeal the decision.

© Canwest News Service 2008

Eye-spy binmen will soon be knocking on doors in Wolverhampton – to tick off residents for not recycling their rubbish.

Officials are keeping records on which households do not put out their recycling boxes each fortnight and will be personally visiting addresses to ask why.

The move, which will come into force from April, has prompted concern from some councillors, who say the policy smacks of Big Brother.

Currently, council teams are placing red and white labels on the bins of addresses identified as not recycling paper, glass and cans.

Wolverhampton City Council insisted today its staff are not looking inside people’s bins to see what they are throwing away.

But they admit noting down which homes do not use their recycling boxes.

Bosses say they will now knock on doors from April to remind people to use the boxes, which are emptied every fortnight.

Wolverhampton Waste and Recycling Partnership found that use of the green boxes is “particularly poor” in areas like Bilston, The Scotlands, Low Hill, Bushbury, Whitmore Reans and Dunstall Park.

But the stickers have also been found on bins in Tettenhall.

Councillor Barry Findlay, who represents Tettenhall Regis, said: “It does seem a bit like spying and I can understand why some people will not like this.”

Councillor Wendy Thompson, who represents Tettenhall Wightwick and has been given a sticker, said: “I have raised this with the council as I think the stickers could be taken the wrong way.”

Jayne Willis, waste policy manager at the city council, said: “We do not look inside people’s bins but we carried out a survey before Christmas.

“In one area where we put the stickers out we increased the amount recycled on that round by five tons that week.

“If, on the day we did the survey the household did not put the recycling box out, we will visit them. Of course, this is not 100 per cent accurate as someone may have just forgotten that week or may have been on holiday.

“We certainly have no plans to fine anybody for not recycling but we want to do all we can to encourage them to participate.”

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/02/14/bin-brother-is-watching-you/

By LEONARD PITTS JR . .

In the beginning was the fingerprint.

It was in the 19th century that scientists realized the ridged whorls on the tip of the finger constituted a unique marker that could be used to tell one person from another. And eventually, the FBI built a massive database of fingerprints.

Then came DNA. In the 20th century, scientists learned to use the double helix nucleic acid molecule as a means of identification even more definitive than the fingerprint. And the FBI built a DNA database as well.

Now the feds are building yet another database. And it has some folks worried.

Maybe you missed it in the run-up to Super Duper Tuesday when the Associated Press reported last week that the FBI will soon award a $1 billion, 10-year contract for construction of an electronic file that would store not just fingerprints and DNA, but a vast compendium of other physical characteristics. Maybe you missed it in the run-up to Super Duper Tuesday when the Associated Press reported last week that the FBI will soon award a $1 billion, 10-year contract for construction of an electronic file that would store not just fingerprints and DNA, but a vast compendium of other physical characteristics. We’re talking eye scans, facial shape, palm prints, scars, tattoos and other biometrics, all for the purpose of identifying and capturing bad guys.

But at least one privacy advocate thinks even good guys — and gals — have cause for concern. Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU’s Technology and Liberty Project, told CNN, “It’s the beginning of the surveillance society where you can be tracked anywhere, any time and all your movements, and eventually all your activities will be tracked and noted and correlated.” Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU’s Technology and Liberty Project, told CNN, “It’s the beginning of the surveillance society where you can be tracked anywhere, any time and all your movements, and eventually all your activities will be tracked and noted and correlated.”

I know what some of you are saying and it makes a certain amount of sense: If you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Well, I haven’t done wrong, but it worries me just the same.

The government has for years collected fingerprints — not just of criminals, but also of certain job applicants. What’s happening now, it could be reasonably argued, is only a high-tech extension of that. Except that instead of just your fingerprints, the government will also have on file the shape of your iris, that scar from your appendectomy and the tattoo on your inner thigh.

It’sa discomfiting reminder of the totalitarian states of “Fahrenheit 451″ and “1984,” oppressive regimes that saw everything, knew everything, regulated everything. Given the advances in technology and the ominous, Orwellian turn our government has lately taken, the comparison seems far less far-fetched than once it might have.

It’s not just the government, though. In recent years, the right to privacy, the right to simply be left alone, has also been eroded by the corporate community — everything from supermarket discount cards that track your buying habits to online businesses that install secret spyware in your computer. And we haven’t even mentioned that there is a camera on every street corner nowadays.

“I always feel like somebody’s watching me.” That used to be just the hook from a schlocky ’80s song. Increasingly, it is an apt description of modern life.

Now the FBI proposes to collect and collate still more personal information. It swears the information will be protected, and will be used only to ferret out criminals.

But I can’t help a certain wariness when I consider the ease with which the program could expand far beyond that mission. As Steinhardt sees it, first criminals, then job applicants and then, “Eventually, it’s going to be everybody.”

I admit, he might be wrong. But you know something? He might not.

Leonard Pitts Jr. is a syndicated writer in Washington.