500,000 computer terminals across Europe can access private British data
Large amounts of personal data belonging to British citizens is accessible from more than 500,000 computer terminals across Europe.
The figure was revealed in a Council of the European Union document examining proposals to establish a new agency, based in France, that would manage much of the 27 EU member states’ shared data. But the sheer number of access points to the Schengen Information System (SIS) – which holds information regarding immigration status, arrest warrants, entries on the police national computer and a multitude of personal details – has triggered concerns about the security of the data.
Statewatch, a group that monitors civil liberties in Europe, said it was aware of a case in Belgium where personal information extracted from the system by an official was sold to an organised criminal gang.
The rapid expansion of the EU has played a significant part in increasing the size of the network. In 2003, there were 125,000 computer terminals across the EU with access to the system, according to official documents. But following EU enlargement, the number of computer terminals with access to the system increased dramatically.
According to the Council of the European Union “Inter-institutional File”, “the SIS is built around a central database that is networked, via national systems, to more than half a million terminals located within the security services of the member states”. The file goes on to explain that the system “currently contains more than 30m alerts [for wanted persons, stolen vehicles and stolen or lost identity papers and documents]“. While the SIS is credited by its supporters with helping to track wanted criminals and illegal immigrants, there are concerns that the personal data it holds could be invaluable for fraudsters.
There is no way to make data perfectly secure and, by allowing so many access points, the British are right to worry about whose hands this information will wind up in.
Passports required to enter internet cafes in Belarus
Starting this summer, anyone who wants to enter an internet cafe will be required to show their passport.
The decree requires all Internet providers in Belarus to store data on the Internet use of individuals for a full year and to hand that information over to law-enforcement agencies upon request.
It also requires Internet service providers to block access to any website within 24 hours of being asked to do so by government regulators — a provision that goes beyond antiterrorism security rules imposed under the most restrictive Internet laws in Western countries.
Activists said the “Decree on the Regularization of the Belarusian segment of the Internet” is simply being used to tighten control over the Internet in the country.
The president’s official website says the decree is “an attempt to protect the rights of Belarusian citizens, society, and the state in the field of information.”
While this appears to be targeted at Belarusians, particularly activists, it will probably be required of anyone entering internet cafes, including foreigners.
Subversives now required to register in South Carolina
If you’re planning on overthrowing the government and live in South Carolina, you’re now required to register as a subversive, informing officials of your intentions. You are also required to pay a $5 filing fee and fill out a form [pdf] . Failure to do so could result in a $25,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.
The state’s “Subversive Activities Registration Act,” passed last year and now officially on the books, states that “every member of a subversive organization, or an organization subject to foreign control, every foreign agent and every person who advocates, teaches, advises or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States … shall register with the Secretary of State.”
By “subversive organization,” the law means “every corporation, society, association, camp, group, bund, political party, assembly, body or organization, composed of two or more persons, which directly or indirectly advocates, advises, teaches or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States [or] of this State.”
Officials claim that the law is aimed at Islamic terrorists, but is, naturally, broadly written so as to encompass nearly anyone that could be classified as subversive.
How many tea-baggers and Glenn Beck followers are going to register? They have been calling for the overthrow of the government for the past year.
Apparently, we have not learned from that little incident in Germany 60 years ago. South Carolina has also forgotten that the United States of America was founded by subversives who overthrew the government in power. I guess we should all register.
Do we really need driver’s licenses for the Internet?
Cyber attacks are on the rise and everyone who connects to the internet needs to educate themselves in possible attacks and be diligent in keeping them at bay. The International Telcommunications Union, a UN agency, believes that the only way to do this is to require a type of driver’s license for anyone who wishes to connect to the internet.
ITU Secretary General, Hamadoun Toure, believes that countries should engage themselves in signing treaties, promising not to attack each other in cyberspace. The problem, however, is that such a treaty would only affect countries. Individuals, organized crime, and malicious hackers would not be part of any treaty. While it appears that China played a part in the recent attacks on google, rogue individuals and groups will continue to ply their trade, mostly undetected by the UN officials hired to police the Internet.
Read the rest of my article at The Daily Censored.
Banker caught looking at nude photos in background of live TV interview
In a Seven News: News Flash, a Macquarie Bank worker can be seen looking a nude photos in the background during a live cross to Martin Lakos of Macquarie Private Wealth.
You can see the pictures at 1:07 in the video. At 1:32, he realizes he’s live on camera. It is also being reported that he may have been set up.
