Comments on: Somewhere In East Germany, The Former Head Of The Stasi Weeps http://www.briankaneonline.com/2009/11/20/somewhere-in-east-germany-the-former-head-of-the-stasi-weeps/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:09:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jamie Malanowski http://www.briankaneonline.com/2009/11/20/somewhere-in-east-germany-the-former-head-of-the-stasi-weeps/comment-page-1/#comment-8199 Jamie Malanowski Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:43:45 +0000 http://www.briankaneonline.com/?p=2568#comment-8199 It was personally enlightening to write the article about CCTV in the UK, if for no other reason than that my feelings about the cameras swung back and forth so much. Of course I was concerned about the potential for abuse, and I remain concerned, especially after the other article you cite, about which I was unaware. In many ways, I was more comfortable being alarmed. But there is this very practical common sense on the part of nearly everyone I spoke to that was very consoling. There is just this kind of baseline good sense that sees these cameras as a tool; the professionals have very little interest in pushing the limits, and those who abuse the tool don't last long. It seems similar to giving all the police guns. Yes, they could shoot dozens of people every day, and in fact, some people do get shot, and there are some abuses, but our worst dreams have not been fulfilled, nor is it all likely that they will be. Personally, I am more alarmed about the potential for abuse involved in the creation of a National ID card and a DNA data base, coupled with proposed changes in police powers like preventive detention. I don't think one can keep giving the authorities all this apparatus and never expect it to be used. I guess the best news is that the potential for abuse is so obvious and apparent that the authorities know they're being watched every time they initiate some program that increases state power. Many smart, informed people are aware of the potential; the really alarming thing is the general compalcency of the public. Are you acquainted with Henry Porter, the British journalist who writes several times a week for The Guardian on this subject? I think you would enjoy reading him. He can be found at guardian.co.uk. Anyway, thank you once again for reading my article, and taking the time to think about it. It was personally enlightening to write the article about CCTV in the UK, if for no other reason than that my feelings about the cameras swung back and forth so much. Of course I was concerned about the potential for abuse, and I remain concerned, especially after the other article you cite, about which I was unaware. In many ways, I was more comfortable being alarmed. But there is this very practical common sense on the part of nearly everyone I spoke to that was very consoling. There is just this kind of baseline good sense that sees these cameras as a tool; the professionals have very little interest in pushing the limits, and those who abuse the tool don’t last long. It seems similar to giving all the police guns. Yes, they could shoot dozens of people every day, and in fact, some people do get shot, and there are some abuses, but our worst dreams have not been fulfilled, nor is it all likely that they will be. Personally, I am more alarmed about the potential for abuse involved in the creation of a National ID card and a DNA data base, coupled with proposed changes in police powers like preventive detention. I don’t think one can keep giving the authorities all this apparatus and never expect it to be used. I guess the best news is that the potential for abuse is so obvious and apparent that the authorities know they’re being watched every time they initiate some program that increases state power. Many smart, informed people are aware of the potential; the really alarming thing is the general compalcency of the public.

Are you acquainted with Henry Porter, the British journalist who writes several times a week for The Guardian on this subject? I think you would enjoy reading him. He can be found at guardian.co.uk.

Anyway, thank you once again for reading my article, and taking the time to think about it.

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