This little story from China caught my eye.
"The Associated Press ("BEIJING POLICE LAUNCH VIRTUAL WEB PATROL", 2007-08-28) reported that police in the PRC's capital said they will start patrolling the Web using animated beat officers that pop up on a user's browser and walk, bike or drive across the screen warning them to stay away from illegal Internet content.
Starting Sept. 1, the cartoon alerts will appear every half hour on 13 of China's top portals, including Sohu and Sina, and by the end of the year will appear on all Web sites registered with Beijing servers, the Beijing Public Security Ministry said in a statement."
I have a warped sense of humour, so in a perverse way I cannot but help smile at the thought of a "virtual copper" appearing on my pc screen. However, the unpleasant implications of state surveillance of what people do on their pcs is clear for all to see.
I wonder when Nanny will be doing the same thing here?
They already want mass dna testing which so far not even the Chinese have attempted......
ReplyDeleteYep... there is a massive debate about the DNA database.
ReplyDeleteIt's currently going on
at the bbc's 'have your say' section of the web forum.
Loads are playing heck...
I suppose a vitual policeman is better than the situation we have here....virtually no policemen.
ReplyDeleteNanny won't be able to resist this oppotunity to keep an eye on us whilst online...she may do so already.