In another step forward to the “cashless” revolution our governments are trying to force upon us, USA Technologies and AT&T Wireless have begun implementing digital payments on vending machines, parking meters and just about any other automated electronic self-service device you can imagine. This is how it works, with your AT&T GSM/GPRS network service, you will be given access to the USA Technologies e-Port wireless credit card system, then using your phone you will be helping to simplify the process of taking your money. This technology is inevitable, we all saw it coming, but is it a good thing to have?

What power will our society be left with if we cannot even make a single purchase in our lives without it being tracked, assessed and categorized by hundreds of information gathering systems, soon they will know us better then we know ourselves. Is this the freedom we have created in the 21st century?

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/344/C3292/


From:
Aftermath News
Top Stories - October 24th, 2004

Die Polizei darf auch in den kommenden Jahren auf die Telefonverbindungsdaten verdächtiger Personen zugreifen.

Eine entsprechende Regelung, die Ende dieses Jahres ausgelaufen wäre, wurde am Donnerstagabend vom Bundestag bis Ende 2007 verlängert. Bis auf die PDS stimmten alle Fraktionen zu. Danach müssen die Telefonanbieter den Ermittlungsbehörden über Telefonnummern von Anrufern und Angerufenen sowie über den Standort des Telefonierenden Auskunft geben.

Der Parlamentarische Staatssekretär im Bundesjustizministerium, Alfred Hartenbach (SPD), verwies auf die Notwendigkeit dieses Ermittlungsinstruments. So könnten im Bereich der organisierten Kriminalität auf diesem Wege Strukturen und Verbindungen zwischen verschiedenen Bandenmitgliedern aufgedeckt werden. Zudem seien flüchtige Personen auf einem anderen Wege kaum aufzuspüren. (dpa/doe)

http://www.tecchannel.de/news/mobile/mobilfunk/17853/

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

Informant: Andrea Ball

Wired News

10/19/04

U.S. government efforts to prevent further terrorist attacks on the nation's planes and trains are increasingly incorporating smart technologies that can sniff out bomb residue on a passport or see through clothes to detect weapons taped to a would-be terrorist's stomach. ... Currently, the TSA is field-testing a wide range of new gadgets and systems. At five airports, for example, the agency is testing passenger-screening portals that shoot puffs of air at passengers to loosen particles, which the machine then quickly tests for explosive residue. At the back doors of airports, the TSA is testing fingerprint and iris checkers that would keep out unauthorized people."

http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,65366,00.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1313556,00.html


Informant: Nilbux

"It's the thin edge of the wedge"

We asked whether you would you allow your driving habits to be electronically monitored in return for a lowered car insurance premium?

Here’s what you have to say:

Absolutely NOT! It's like giving the wolves a free hand in managing the chicken coop! And what next? The microchips in our bodies?
- Ella Collins, Toronto, Oct. 14

The insurance companies like to say that monitoring people's driving habits may decrease their insurance premiums by 25 per cent. What they forget to mention is that they are most likely wanting to monitor people's driving habits to have an excuse to raise people's insurance premiums by 25 per cent.
- Jaime MacDonald, Toronto, Oct. 14

They need to start rewarding the drivers in a big way who have never had an accident. I don't want to jinx myself but I have been years without a claim and never once have they offered to refund my money. Just more smoke and mirrors if they go they go through with this.
- Robert Reeson, Pontypool, Oct. 14

How will monitoring the controls actions, steering, braking, and throttle use, as well as vehicle speed, tell if you are a dangerous driver? Have people finally bought into the theory that speeding is dangerous, in and of itself? If I travel at 140km/h on the 401 in broad daylight with light traffic, is that more dangerous than travelling 52 km/h in a school zone?
- Keith Linton, Bowmanville, Oct. 14

It's the thin edge of the wedge, folks. Soon no insurance company will take you on unless you agree to have a monitor installed.
- Gregory Macbeth, Toronto, Oct. 14

http://makeashorterlink.com/?H2F015B89


From:
Aftermath News
Top Stories - October 18th, 2004

High-tech passports which record iris prints and fingerprints on computer chips could be open to abuse, a Midland MEP has warned. The European Union has announced plans to introduce the new biometric passports, which contain detailed personal information, across all member states. The move was welcomed yesterday by MEP Michael Cashman (Lab West Midlands), but he warned that safeguards were essential. Mr Cashman is a member of the European Parliament's civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, which conducted an investigation into the proposals.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?C52021B89


From:
Aftermath News
Top Stories - October 18th, 2004

http://www.propagandamatrix.com/big_brother.html


Informant: Sheri Grutz