NationStates Jolt Archive

The British government is preparing to test new high-tech license plates containing microchips capable of transmitting unique vehicle identification numbers and other data

http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,68429,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,68429,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

A profoundly good idea, it could cut accidents and crime by very large percentages, except for the amount of tax used to fund it, I think I may be for it.

A profoundly good idea, it could cut accidents and crime by very large percentages, except for the amount of tax used to fund it, I think I may be for it.

It can also be used to track peoples movements. They already have cameras all over the place, now they are adding this. How easy is it becoming for the government to select someone they dont like and track their every movement? Sure, it can cut down on crime, it can also cut down on peaceful people who disagree with the government.

Oh, for crying out loud. What the hell is the big deal with all of this crap? Why do so many people have a problem with the idea that the government can easily find you and that they can easily find information about you. It isn't as if ANY of this information will be used for malicious purposes or sold to corporations, and the government knowing a few things about you doesn't suddenly allow them to control your every movement and thought. I'm tired of this bloody slippery slope argument that people keep using with absolutely nothing to back it up except that "It happened with Hitler so it's going to happen again." So there's information about you stored in some computer somewhere in a government office - will that change what you do, how you act, or restrict you in any way whatsoever? So some civil servant you will never see or meet glanced through your file and ten thousand others looking for suspicious individuals: does that affect you in any way, change how you will act or restrict you in any way? Even if you did meet the guy, he's never going to remember "this guy takes out books on cooking, and reads comic strips online everyday" or even care about it? For christ's sake, people, get over yourselves. Why why why why why should you care that there's a piece of information about you hidden somewhere in a database, and how on earth does that restrict you in any way, or cause you to lose ANY of your freedom to do whatever the hell you want to within the bounds of the law?

It can also be used to track peoples movements. They already have cameras all over the place, now they are adding this. How easy is it becoming for the government to select someone they dont like and track their every movement? Sure, it can cut down on crime, it can also cut down on peaceful people who disagree with the government.
Last time I checked, democratic nations such as the US and Britain allow their citizens to display their dissent towards the government and protest peacefully without incident. Look at how many speak out against Blair and Bush.

Now, if they decide to become not-so-peaceful and things reach the point where the people form a mob and property damage and assaults occur, then I say it's time to bring in those badass-looking riot police with the Plexiglass shields and Kevlar II armor, complete with teargas and shotguns loaded with rubber slugs.

Oh, for crying out loud. What the hell is the big deal with all of this crap? Why do so many people have a problem with the idea that the government can easily find you and that they can easily find information about you. It isn't as if ANY of this information will be used for malicious purposes or sold to corporations, and the government knowing a few things about you doesn't suddenly allow them to control your every movement and thought. I'm tired of this bloody slippery slope argument that people keep using with absolutely nothing to back it up except that "It happened with Hitler so it's going to happen again." So there's information about you stored in some computer somewhere in a government office - will that change what you do, how you act, or restrict you in any way whatsoever? So some civil servant you will never see or meet glanced through your file and ten thousand others looking for suspicious individuals: does that affect you in any way, change how you will act or restrict you in any way? Even if you did meet the guy, he's never going to remember "this guy takes out books on cooking, and reads comic strips online everyday" or even care about it? For christ's sake, people, get over yourselves. Why why why why why should you care that there's a piece of information about you hidden somewhere in a database, and how on earth does that restrict you in any way, or cause you to lose ANY of your freedom to do whatever the hell you want to within the bounds of the law?


Excellent point,if you aren't breaking the law then you have nothing to worry about.if you are then you should be worried anyway.and whats wrong with giving criminals and terrorists more reason to worry?if they worry they'll slip up and get themselves caught,hopefully.

oh and ps:all those living in england;be careful what links you click you never know when someone might check your history evil criminal highly illegal link,clicking this link may be a criminal act

EDIT:
....Plexiglass shields and Kevlar II armor, complete with teargas and shotguns loaded with rubber slugs.

Shotguns loaded with rubber slugs is an incredibly bad idea,i know a man who was blinded by a rubber bullet.tear-gas loaded shotguns would be a much better idea,still lethal,or at least very dangerous,if fired directly at someone at close range,but those usin them would know how to use them.one would hope so at least

So there's information about you stored in some computer somewhere in a government office - will that change what you do, how you act, or restrict you in any way whatsoever? So some civil servant you will never see or meet glanced through your file and ten thousand others looking for suspicious individuals: does that affect you in any way, change how you will act or restrict you in any way?
How about the civil servant who happens to know you, and has a beef with you? Oh, that's right, civil servants and people in government aren't human, so they're inherently trustworthy and would never dream of abusing their powers and privileges. Heck, why don't we get rid of any form of oversight or checks-and-balances, because it's utter nonsense that they would ever do anything inappropriate... ;)

A profoundly good idea, it could cut accidents and crime by very large percentages, except for the amount of tax used to fund it, I think I may be for it.


Hmm....now how did we conservatives manage to switch from fear of Big Brother to embracement of it? I think we need to consider our roots...

A profoundly good idea, it could cut accidents and crime by very large percentages, except for the amount of tax used to fund it, I think I may be for it.
Well are you for it or not? You can't have it without the taxes. So your choice comes down to liberty vs security. I'll pick the latter.

Hmm....now how did we conservatives manage to switch from fear of Big Brother to embracement of it? I think we need to consider our roots...
You're not a conservative so much as an authoritarian. You people have always embraced Big Brother.

I don't know, the benefits seem to outweigh the risks. After all, a license plate is nothing more than a way for the government to track the status of vehicles owned by its citizens; this seems like it would make tracking criminals and stolen vehicles easier than it currently is, and could be vital in situations of kidnapping. I support it.

Last time I checked, democratic nations such as the US and Britain allow their citizens to display their dissent towards the government and protest peacefully without incident. Look at how many speak out against Blair and Bush.

They (the U.S. at least) also put people belonging to peaceful protest groups on blacklists banning them from flight and don't alert the person or give reasons why they have done so even though it is painfully obvious.

I don't know, the benefits seem to outweigh the risks. After all, a license plate is nothing more than a way for the government to track the status of vehicles owned by its citizens; this seems like it would make tracking criminals and stolen vehicles easier than it currently is, and could be vital in situations of kidnapping. I support it.

but that would make the govt. bigger and cost taxpayer dollars. wouldn't it be better if this was left to private business like LoJack where people could pay for it if they wanted it?

They (the U.S. at least) also put people belonging to peaceful protest groups on blacklists banning them from flight and don't alert the person or give reasons why they have done so even though it is painfully obvious.

Now that is a violation of liberty. :(

License plates are designed to reflect many spectrums of light. In CA, we had these things that looked like streetlamps, minus the lamp, that are positioned over the highway, and they record the numbers of all the cars going by. If one care is going between LA and San Diego 8 times a day, they flag that vehicle, stop them, and check them out. So, in a way, it is already being done.

And of course, OnStar.

Now that is a violation of liberty. :(

Yet it started happening with the Bush administration when there were such huge protests against the war. Yet, noone has had to pay the price for such violations.

Yet it started happening with the Bush administration when there were such huge protests against the war. Yet, noone has had to pay the price for such violations.

That price will be paid in the future; personally, I think there is a huge backlash building against the attempt to muscle civil liberties out of our country. We'll see the first reversal beginning in the 2005 off-year election.

That price will be paid in the future; personally, I think there is a huge backlash building against the attempt to muscle civil liberties out of our country. We'll see the first reversal beginning in the 2005 off-year election.


Lets hope! *hi5*

Lets hope! *hi5*

*hi5*

I'll be more active than ever next year trying to get DeWine out of office. :cool:

Shotguns loaded with rubber slugs is an incredibly bad idea,i know a man who was blinded by a rubber bullet.tear-gas loaded shotguns would be a much better idea,still lethal,or at least very dangerous,if fired directly at someone at close range,but those usin them would know how to use them.one would hope so at least
I have read about quite a few injuries involving these - but they are good tools for such a situation if they are used properly. They are never, ever to be fired at someone’s head or neck, but instead at the chest or torso. It'll leave one hell of a mark and knock the person down, but that is the point.

They (the U.S. at least) also put people belonging to peaceful protest groups on blacklists banning them from flight and don't alert the person or give reasons why they have done so even though it is painfully obvious.
I'd certainly like to see proof where the US government has placed restrictions on citizens against the war.

In the past the US government has moved to infiltrate and break up political parties and political action groups. Look up cointelpro for more info. These types of new technologies just give them more tools to wage war on their own citizens as they have already done in the past.

I'd certainly like to see proof where the US government has placed restrictions on citizens against the war.

You never heard about this?

http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=2983

Or you could google: Protesters No Fly List