From:	The Powerhouse <P.C.Steele@*********.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: More on Big Brother in Shadowrun
Date:	Mon, 21 Mar 1994 22:22:03 +0000

In reply to Matt .....

>>- The technology could be a powerful weapon in a "big brother" arsenal,
>> with cameras in front of many stores and street corners, scanning for
>> criminals or anyone on the government's watch list?

> You don't honestly think they would be able to do that, do you? Right or
> wrong, no one would stand for it.

Ahh maybe not now, though I bet you could think of one or two bodies that
would like to see such a system implemented. But imagine in the future where
what the corps say goes, the goverments are nearly controlloed by the massive
megacorps and if they decide that good security is to start installing thermo-
imaging cameras around any area of monetry value then they'll do it.

As to the barrens, well while it might be nice for the companies to install
such equipment the cost will always outweigh the gain hence causuing corps
to not even bother with such placements.

>>- Does the government have the right to randomly photograph people for
>> matching them against a criminal database?

> Criminals would certainly think not. After all, they might get caught. As
> long as the system works, and all activities of non-criminals are kept
> private, I don't mind.

Well this comment isn't prehaps relevant to shadowrun but there have been
countless cases of misidentification where computers are involved, now just
imagine if nice friendly Joe Bloggs somehow has the same or close as damm it
match to that of a suspected Libyian terrorist and he went through airport
security.

This is an issue that we all may have to address in the future.

>>- What guarantees do we have that thermographs are actually unique for
>> every person, or that the system is foolproof?

> What gaurentees does the layman have that the same can be said for
> fingerprints?

Ha ! Exactly, who can really say that there is NO risk.

>>- What is the potential for blackmail, with thermographs to prove peopl
>> were in compromising places and positions?

> Extremely high. Then again, what was the schmuck doing screwing up/around
> anyway?

Does it matter ? In most free socities things such as having an affair only
matter if you're caught. Or maybe a prominent politician has been identified
as going to a gay cinema/bar etc ... It may be his right to be express his
sexuality as he feels but will everyone else see things the same way ?

>>There are also my own points.

>>- While this can be used to protect nuclear power plants against
>> infiltration by terrorists (as one example it gives), what is to stop
>> for example, to be used to find (and silence or eliminate) critics an
>> dissidents? I wouldn't give China 30 seconds before it would use
>> something like this to capture critics such as the victims of Tianame
>> Square.

> Are we debating its legality in the USA or in China? Anyone have any proof of
> the same type of critic supression tactics used in China being used here?
> If the government killed off critics like that, Rush Limbaugh would have been
> long silenced... :)

The original author does state at this point that you are reading his own
personal views, he was however originally debating it's use in America but
with more and more authoritairian laws appearing in all countries it is
prehaps a warning that is worthwhile to take.


>>- Long history indicates that better technology is not used to improve
>> capture of criminals who violate the lives and property of other priv
>> parties, it is used to go after whatever group the government opposes
>> That's why people who defend themselves with guns against armed
>> criminals in places where gun controls are in effect, can expect to
>> be treated harsher than the criminal would have been. Existence of
>> criminals supports the need for more police and more police-state law
>> defending oneself against criminals shows the ineffectiveness of thos
>> laws.

> More police-state laws? Like being able to moniter and instantly ID people
> in sensitive areas.

Sounds like it. Now think to yourself, if things are going this way today
what on earth will they be like in the world of shadowrun ?

Phill.
--
Phillip Steele - Email address P.C.Steele@***.ac.uk | Fighting against
Department Of Electrical & Electronic Engineering | Political Correctness !
University Of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England |
Land of the mad Geordies | The Powerhouse