--- From: "Chuck Mauthe" <cmauthe@private> To: "'Politech'" <declan@private> Subject: Having A Drink With Big Brother Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 08:44:03 -0400 This is from the "Spyware Weekly Newsletter :· October 14, 2003" Having A Drink With Big Brother How would you like to drink a beer with Big Brother? Starting some time within the next six months, some patrons in the Vancouver area in Canada will be doing just that. Last week, 35 bars and nightclubs belonging to an organization called Barwatch voted to make mandatory the use of a computerized network to track detailed information about their patrons. Customers will be forced to allow their pictures to be taken and combined with personally identifiable information before being allowed inside. It even will allow participating businesses to access criminal records. This information will be shared among every other business tied into the system, as well as with law enforcement. It is also possible that the information could be sold to market research companies. As you might expect, Vancouver residents are not happy about this. Darrell Evans, executive director of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, hates the idea. "I would just walk the other way and see how they like it. I wouldn't put up with that myself." One resident had this to say in a letter to the editor of The Vancouver Sun. Count me as one citizen who will never voluntarily give up my rights to legitimate anonymity. Photographing patrons and keeping records of their activities, surveying and scrutinizing them with cameras, and compiling data to trade amongst themselves and the authorities is such a direct violation of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms that I can't imagine how the owners could even propose such a scheme. Owen Cameron, co-owner of the company responsible for creating the ID software, disagrees. "Most people are willing to give up a bit of anonymity for safety," he said. I wonder how the weather is in Mr Cameron's personal little world where that is true? Proponents of a similar technology being used in California claim that any invasion of privacy is not alarming because there's not much privacy left to invade. Without the slightest doubt, that is the most boneheaded statement that I have ever heard. Am I excused from mugging someone because they were mugged an hour earlier and were left with only a dollar? Does that somehow make it OK for me to take that last dollar? Some employees of businesses participating in the program are worried about becoming unemployed as potential customers leave in disgust for less intrusive watering holes. Business has decreased noticeably since the program began according to one employee of a participating member. Truly, I would hate for this foolishness to cost anyone their job. However, I hope that area bars not participating in this program watch their own business increase at Barwatch's expense. I hope they are able to understand why their business is increasing. In a free market, paying customers tend to spend money with businesses who treat them with respect. The goal of the program, ensuring that underage minors are turned away and keeping track of rowdy drinkers, is noble. However, the way this program is being conducted is foolhardy and I predict that it costs these bars a significant drop in business. The very idea runs counter to Human nature. There are bars you frequent regularly, where everyone really does know your name. On the other hand, there are bars where you go when you want a quiet beer with no talk and with no one knowing who you are. For thousands of years, we have always been able to walk into a bar and sip a beer or whiskey quietly and anonymously. This is such a basic component of most Human societies that I cannot believe bar owners have overlooked it. I sincerely hope that they wise up before it costs them their business and us our privacy. Links: http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=ef9085ea-6a32-4042-98dd-c7e55801a 875 :: Letter to the Editor (Vancouver Sun) http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.asp?id=936FC638-D1F5-4BA0-8E4B-1F4FEAD EA16D :: High-tech targets bad bar customers http://www.sacticket.com/nightlife/story/5839603p-6805951c.html :: Taking license _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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