Category: Surveillance

Watching your back in the Digital World

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Point of Privacy

I came face to face with an obvious Ai driven face recognition terminal at the payment desk of a high street retailer.

So not only do they have my payment history and patterns, but my full bio iD (obtained without my permission). Should I submit a subject access request or just let it fly. Maybe I just shop somewhere else now or cover my face on every purchase.

I guess it’s the same approach that cash machines take when your image is taken on every withdrawal.

The most unnerving element was watching the small screen at the payment point with my face being tracked. There are no hiding spots in public spaces so just get used to it.

I did catch a glimpse of a social media campaign encouraging people to go totally offline for the day seemingly in protest of how connectivity dominates our personal lives.  The real challenge is we don’t really have the mental toughness to turn it all off.

Tempted to take everything off-line.
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Oblivious worlds

According to the United Nations, more than 5,600 people were killed in gang violence in Haiti in 2024, with another 2,212 injured and 1,494 kidnapped. This stands in stark contrast to the luxury cruise ships that dock on the island every few days, bringing thousands of affluent tourists.

I was aboard one of those ships, shielded by a mountain range that made it nearly impossible for locals to even catch a glimpse of the vessels by road.

Tourists grappled with the realization that they weren’t experiencing authentic Haiti. Instead, they wandered within a tightly controlled, sanitized environment where Haitian vendors were restricted to specific zones. Security was discreet, carefully preserving the illusion of a carefree vacation.

Warnings were posted, advising tourists not to venture beyond their designated areas, creating a feeling of a manufactured, gated experience—almost like a modern-day Jurassic Park. Visitors could buy a keychain or a fridge magnet as proof of their trip, while outside the protected zones, half the population was struggling to survive.

Why is this even a tourist spot?

GTA 6 will drop this year and the hype train will explode as casual and pro gamers move into this new world and ditch their real lives.

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Take a closer look

Sky News reports that Kemi Badenoch secured 53,000 votes from a membership base of 130,000, with 40,000 members choosing not to vote.

What does this say picture say to you?

Wishing Kemi every success in her tenure ahead.

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Power-On Self-Test

Business and Personal life continuity in our new lockdown era ramps up the criticality of pings.

Cut off anyone’s internet access and with seconds that are flapping around like a fish in the floor. Within minutes their brain will implode and after an hour irreversible brain damage will kick in. Well, a slight exaggeration but you get me point.

Over 90% of our service requires an internet connection and it much cheaper now.
So with these old vulnerabilities in plain view why craft up new malware and exploits. Just reuse the classics, this Christmas, for example, we may see the same threats resurfacing. Privacy is so 2018 as many “bend the knee” to be tracked to “protect” society.

If you really want to socially distance yourself and isolate simply kill your WiFi, job done. No constant stream of toxic global pandemic news sending your brain into panic and disbelief but no entertainment [Sad Face?].

Time to dig up all DVDs or maybe actually talk to the person you live with…if you are lucky enough to co-habit.

Anyhow, my Internet Diet of 24-hours is over and I’m back online uploading this article.

Poor old UK Government has no idea what to do next

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Erase yourself

Probably inspired by GDPR, some Global vendors are following the tracks of social media giants by making it easy to download ALL your data.

It will take seven (7) days but I just put in my request for info to Apple hoping for some surprises.  There will be many of us who state that we have “nothing” to hide and don’t care what information is held.

You don’t know what you don’t know

https://privacy.apple.com

Self-discovery is always a healthy thing gives you the power to decide to delete ALL, correct or reset.

Basic discovery

App Store, iTunes Store, 
iBooks Store and Apple Music activity
Apple ID account and device information
Apple Online Store and Retail Store activity
AppleCare support history, repair requests and more
Game Center activity
iCloud Bookmarks and Reading List
iCloud Calendars and Reminders
iCloud Contacts
iCloud Drive files and documents
iCloud Mail
iCloud Notes
iCloud Photos
Maps Report an Issue
Marketing subscriptions, 
Marketing downloads