Today the BBC has revealed a story about how Google wants to make a copy of your entire hard drive and store it on their servers. The Register also has some more information about it.
Do you trust search engines with all of your data? Don’t forget what happened in China.
The New Scientist reports that the military has gotten so-called "ethical approval" to put implants into animals that will allow the military to remotely control the animals.
". . . the Pentagon hopes to exploit sharks’ natural ability to glide quietly through the water, sense delicate electrical gradients and follow chemical trails. By remotely guiding the sharks’ movements, they hope to transform the animals into stealth spies, perhaps capable of following vessels without being spotted."
The military admits to using mammals in their programs, but denies that the animals are used for offensive purposes. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it was revealed that some of these animals are possibly trained for offensive purposes:
"Armed dolphins, trained by the US military to shoot terrorists and pinpoint spies underwater, may be missing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Experts who have studied the US navy’s cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying ‘toxic dart’ guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet’s smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing."
PBS also has some information about attack dolphins. PBS claims that there is no proof that dolphins were ever trained to attack humans, but if a dolphin can be trained to "tag" an enemy diver, what would stop the military from training the dolphins to neutralize an enemy diver?
The New Scientist reports that the military has gotten so-called "ethical approval" to put implants into animals that will allow the military to control the animal.
". . . the Pentagon hopes to exploit sharks’ natural ability to glide quietly through the water, sense delicate electrical gradients and follow chemical trails. By remotely guiding the sharks’ movements, they hope to transform the animals into stealth spies, perhaps capable of following vessels without being spotted."
The Guardian reports that biometric ID cards are coming to the UK:
Millions of British citizens will be compulsorily required to hold an identity card and see their biometric details placed on a central database after the government last night fended off a backbench rebellion designed to derail the plan. Anyone applying for passports or immigration documents will in two years time be required to apply for an ID card.
The cards will store 49 types of information, including fingerprints and other biometric information. It is expected that the cards will eventually become compulsory, with a punishment of a £2,500 (US $4,350) fine for not registering.
In an article titled Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation, the Electronic Frontier Foundation discusses some of the privacy issues related to the ability of the new Google Desktop software to remove data from your computer and store it on Google’s servers. The article also provides links to further reading about the subject.
Google may be building an alternate Internet system. The linked article discusses this "GoogleNet" and the possibility of a GoogleCube. Google is motivated to collect data about you because it allows the company to target advertising better.
As discussed in a recent article from the Associated Press, Google is not the only one who wants your personal data:
Google is fighting the Justice Department’s subpoena in a federal court battle that’s focusing more attention on the risks of personal information held by Internet companies being turned over to outside sources, including the government.
In some places, cell phones are being used to track vehicle movements. The technology is there, and the government has found a way to use it for your benefit.
"For your security" cell phones will soon be able to recognize you by your face. Cell phones can transmit data. Soon, facial recognition technology will be everywhere.
It’s happening in China. Coming to your country soon…
Internet giant Yahoo has been accused of supplying information to China which led to the jailing of a journalist for “divulging state secrets”.
