COAG met yesterday, the Prime Minister and the premiers of the states and chief ministers of the territories with Tasmanian premier, Will Hodgman, only allowed in after facial recognition technology was used as no one really knew what he looked like.
When the day came to an end, they all stood around backslapping for the cameras having agreed to everything the Prime Minister had placed on the agenda, including the creation of a national database of drivers’ licence photographs from across the country to give some muscle to photo recognition technology and continue the creeping sense of state surveillance on the citizenry.
It was a brief moment of political unity with Labor and Liberal leaders speaking as one.
How do we feel about this? The idea of a national voluntary non-binding postal survey didn’t get a look in this time, funnily enough, so we’re not quite sure about the national mood but it was one of those moments where clearly government didn’t give a damn what people thought.
Full column here.
I wonder if this facial surveillance is more to do with tracking where a suspected terrorist has been.
It would be along the lines that the authorities get a tip off about a particular person or persons and using these techniques they can attempt to determine the target.
And of course it can be used to track them.
Imperfect technology might be an issue. On my way to Indon last month I rocked up to outbound immigration, slid my passport into the handy slot, and the camera was moving up—and stopped. See, I was wearing a Green Bay Packer t-shirt with a football helmet on it. It locked on to that and didn’t find my face.
Imagine the difficulty it will have with all the 2 faced politicians!
A nerdy mate tells me this technology can be fooled by a beard, a cap, or sunglasses. Santa will have no problems. Just watched GBP 35 DC 31. Good game. Very tense final 1/4.
I might have to explain the loud cheering early this morning to the new neighbors. It’s become a ritual for me!
Mostly groaning from me – also watched Bills floundering against the Bengals and go down 16 – 20. Bengals turned it over 3 times and the Bills didn’t capitalise. Bill’s Micah Hyde leading the League for intercepts already with another great grab to back up the two howlers he pulled down against the Falcons last week. Bills defense the best in the League, conceding just 70 points in 5 games, but their offense is erratic and pedestrian. Packers travelling good mate, 3rd on the ladder now.
Razor says:
OCTOBER 6, 2017 AT 10:53 PM; Dwight says: OCTOBER 7, 2017 AT 3:45 PM; JackSprat says: OCTOBER 7, 2017 AT 10:56 PM;
If you people really believe T.Bull and “Twenty Flags Tony” don’t do the terror scare thing for political gain as well as ‘national security’ you are very naive. One of our highest ranking Spook/ ONA officers has stated the intelligence they were receiving had little resemblance to what Howard, Downer and Co were communicating to the people when we were taken to war on scant evidence and lies… and the quote during Abbott’s term … “There is no doubt the Abbott government is playing up the terror threat for political gain” and from distinguished General Peter Gration- “There is no direct threat to Australia”. I tend to believe those at the coalface rather than two-faced politicians who govern from the rear vision mirror and can only see as far as the next election and who are known to lie at will. A bevvy of American Generals and CIA officers have made similar statements.
OK Bassy.
If you were in power, what would you do, knowing full well that if your citizens thought that you were doing nothing to protect them and they were hurt they would riot.
In other words, what precautions would you take?
When I am in power I will certainly tell you.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2017/10/07/california-rejects-gas-plant-refurbishment-embraces-solar-storage/
Heading off to the airport soon to pick up the mother-in-law, I may need a drink or two or three over the next week…..make that bottles.
Add chasers and maybe something before hand……
How’s it going Tracy? My mother-in-law used to bag my husband to me all the time, then would get offended when I stuck up for him. Shouldn’t say this but it sure wasn’t hard moving overseas while she was alive….
Don’t fall asleep and leave this on the screen Tracy.
Now there’s an interesting upside, no mothers or fathers-in-law. Would have interesting in both cases, “You married a _____ ?”
Here it is in all its ghastliness, Mr Insider, and of course I refer to Bill Shortens Rapping this week on the Ray Hadley show. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Bring back Macklemore I say!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssSOej7m-RA
More on that:-I have a view that the facial thing and the stripping of our liberties is about money. All of this is about the money trail Bald Turnbull will link all of his nasties to the taxation and C.Link computers to screw the poor, the sick and those trying to get an education. All politicians eventually want a cashless society so the last cent the local plumber makes can be traced back to his credit card U top up for that leaking tap. Just another one of my nerdy thoughts but down the track like subs and ICBMS you will see I am not far orff the mark.
You are in good company Bassy. There have been many articles about how governments would like to phase out money.
The crazy economic theory of negative interest rates almost demands it because that would stop people from withdrawing money and keeping it under the mattress. (When the Europeans phased out the 500 euro bill, Greek banks were swamped with them.)
There is a corresponding move in many places to phase out high denomination bills.
And of course there is stuff like bitcoin which is a wonderful alternative to cash and dead easy to launder money.
Here’s one for you Bassy – many believe in the demise of jobs to automation. BIG Australia is based on the consumers that we import increasing economic activity so that the Retailers can sell them stuff, builders have to house them etc.
Two problems in my view – firstly we import pretty well every consumer product so as the population grows we have to export more minerals etc to pay for the imports.
Secondly, are we adding to the problem if the tsunami f automation and job losses are correct?
They’re always about the money Bman, money is their God.
Poor people & taking care of the disadvantaged is a loathsome bother to their bottom-line.
“You cannot be a conservative and support this.” Quite right, or anyone who values freedom. This is the kind of issue that separates true libertarians from mere ideologues. The latter will huff and puff about efforts to regulate hate speech, or addictive products that cause cancer, or otherwise prevent harm. They will bang on about ‘”PC” and “Nanny State” and so on, and even dare to cite Orwell, who was as left-wing as they come and would turn in his grave. But when something truly Orwellian like this comes along, they’re not fussed. These are the kind of people who were more concerned that Edward Snowden may have breached his contract of service than the fact that the US government was secretly spying on half the planet.
“breached his contract”
Interesting definition of treason.
IMO a more interesting definition of “treason” is to reveal tyrannous and illegal activity by a government. But I was referring to people, some commenting here, who accept that point but still maintain that Snowden was contractually bound to keep his mouth shut.
ten years ago i might have been at least a little outraged at the idea that the federal government would have a photo ID of most of it’s citizens, but not so much now.
in 2008 i discovered that one of the first things a new resident in Hong Kong must do is spend a few hours in Immigration Tower getting an ID card. The card has a photo and links to thumb prints and is supposed to be carried at all times.
when i was told that it seemed to be bordering on the totalitarian but I shut aside any reservations on the grounds that it seemed better to embrace a few quirks about living in a new city rather than whingeing about them.
nine years later, the HKID card is still in my wallet, and I have enjoyed the convenience of its occasional use and have found no practical downside.
the HK government knowing who i am, and my establishing my identity to their offices easily and conveniently, does not seem to impinge on any freedom.
it feels no different to having a modern passport or drivers licence, and not much different to having a medicare card and tax file number.
the other examples you cite, to regulate what people say, or smoke or drink do restrict freedoms.
anyway, the best thing about the nanny staters is the amusement they provide, there is something entertaining about folks who want to ban smoking almost anywhere but also want the government to provide comfortable and safe premises for folks to fill their arms with chemicals of unknown composition or provenance.
provided, of course, that they don’t fire up a B&H.
I’ve often wondered what the Asians meant when they talk about ‘saving face’ and now I know.
jack, I think there is a big difference between a government using data provided voluntarily for a specified purpose, and using it for something altogether different without consent.
apologies of topic. I am surprised some here have yet to call for S. Marsh’s immediate reinstatement to the Australian XI, not only has he managed to get through more than 2 days in the field he has scored some runs. On a sad note Big John Hastings is retiring from all but T20 cricket. big loss big John.
Geoff did
Nobody on this site in my memory has supported either Marsh. Please supply a quote……I get it must have been a con……..
HAHAHAHA. selective memory
by the time the facial info is posted via this NBN the person in question will have turned gray…/sarc
I have to admit our NBN is running better than I thought, obviously slow uptake in this street………done it now.