[Nottingham] Is it theft to be live alive? (Was: Media Centre Linux distro?)

[James Moore]

Oh aye, a long thread for me to get my teeth into... here goes...

On 09/05/2012 17:21, Martin wrote:
> On 09/05/12 09:00, Michael Erskine wrote:
>> Is it theft to hum a TV theme tune in the street or remember a good
>> joke from a TV program and tell it to someone who doesn't have a
>> license? :)
> Reminds me of:
>
> George Orwell: 1984
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
>
> Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farenheit_451
>
>
> That also reminds me of:
>
> More CCTV cameras than there are public to 'monitor';

ACPO reckons there are only 1.8 million public-facing CCTV cameras in 
the UK.
As of 2008, Channel 4 reported 4.2 million, according to the outgoing 
Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis.
Problem is there's absolutely no way to be sure. I could point to half a 
dozen places in Nottingham that put lie to the density claim (the 
Channel 4 figure was calculated from a sample of just over 200 
businesses on two London streets). I could also point to a ten mile long 
tract of land that is completely devoid of CCTV - within three miles of 
my home!

> ANR to 'monitor' where you drive and where you park your vehicle;

ANPR is there, as stated by the Chief Constable of the Metropolitan 
Police, to ensure not that unregistered/untaxed vehicles are off the 
road but to capture them to issue citations. I am not aware of a single 
case (and I have sat on various benches in many courts over the last 
couple years!) where ANPR has actually caught a *criminal*. It *makes* 
criminals of people who for all anyone knows simply forgot to renew 
their road fund tax disc.

> Gatsos to 'monitor' how fast you drive;

See above. It's a revenue collection tool, nothing more. Insurance 
companies reports over recent years, read: since GATSO and mobile speed 
traps have appeared, that more incidents occur when people slow down 
than because of people driving too fast.

I'll give you a "been there" example. A friend and I were tootling along 
at 35 (according to his dial) on a B road approaching a village. A sign 
said 30, and immediately beyond a speed trap warning. He taps the brake 
to slow down, and we get shunted into a ditch.

> And we are quickly moving towards unfettered GPS position and network
> location 'monitoring' for where you are at every instant if you are a
> part of society with one of those moby thingies.

ANY mobile phone allows any authorised individual to track your exact 
movements (down to the minute and within three feet) for the previous 
*year*. Seen it used in court to put someone away permanently for trying 
to murder his family.

>
> How long before the ever more pervasive CCTV monitoring includes
> microphones?...
>
>
>> These particular laws are artificial constructs: just a way of
>> ensuring (enforcing) a revenue stream. They're largely accepted,
>> albeit begrudgingly, by most in our society. Individuals can choose
>> whether they want to participate but the assumption is that everyone
>> does and it is tough to opt out. Breaking these laws...
> ... is something that needs to be done, but still legally, and before we

Hold that thought, and read Clause 61 of the 1215 Magna Carta. Get back 
to me when you do with any further queries.

> are all legally made unavoidably guilty and randomly prey to the
> "speculative invoicing" or worse. That "speculative" 'trick' has already
> been perpetrated randomly on behalf of one small part of the music
> industry against anyone randomly associated with an internet address,
> whether the victim knew anything of that or not! I'm sure we'll see new
> variants on that despicable theme. Lawyers letters for most people are
> very scary.
>
> At least that one avenue of extortion has been slammed shut by a recent
> legal case:
>
> An IP Address Does Not Identify a Person, Rules Judge
> http://www.tomshardware.com/news/torrent-download-Piracy-IP-address-porn,15548.html

I think that one does not set precedent, other cases have found that the 
individual named on the contract, ie the person who signed off on it, 
has ultimate responsibility. Which I agree with, to a point. You're 
taking your life in your own hands if you operate an open wireless hub, 
for which I have no sympathy (but thanks), but the flipside of that is, 
if you have a few local friends, how far can you trust them not to pull 
a few thousand kiddie porn images from a private tracker, over your 
connection? Because you'll get hung for it, not him.

> Shame the jingo-istic media miss the point completely and paste up a
> jolly pirate picture!

Why's it shameful? Have you seen what newsprint is these days? It's just 
a more permanent form of "entertainment" than TV.
What do you have? Huge banner across the top, attention grabbing 
monosyllabic headlines in 200-pt across the middle, maybe some cheesy 
offer next to the banner, then some who's-screwing-who-this-week 
sidecolumn. It's about as dumbed down as it's going to get.

Next we'll have Penny Smith reading Sky News in some gaudy coloured 
dungarees, surrounded by ragdolls and eyepopping when she gets to the 
bit where "someone has done something very naughty!"

> Shame also for the thousands that were stung with 'extortion', real
> fear, and heartache, every month for the few years that abomination of
> an operation was perpetrated. Was that called ACS Law?... (Just my very
> personal opinion of course.)

Yes, it was. That bastard Crossley has gotten away with it as well, he's 
got sixteen months of his suspension to go then he can get right back 
into practice with ne'er so much more as a slap on the wrist. Although, 
he won't be able to act as partner since he is an adjudicated, 
undischarged bankrupt >:] Sorry but I've had to clear up after him and 
it is a complete bitch trying to get money for clients out of the CICB 
when it's a SOLICITOR caused the bleedin' injury!

> And what happens when IPv6 is more widely used that uniquely identifies
> a particular personal device?

Dumb question of course; when it takes over IPv4 as the dominant 
protocol then any hint of anonymity is gone. IPv4 will die as will any 
devices that can't upgrade.

>
> I'm sure there's going to be many more speculative stings foisted on
> ever more new victims as such monitoring information falls into the
> hands of ever more 'operators'.
>
> Add facial recognition and...

Of course, now Facebook's interests are purely commercial, FR will 
become a significant asset. There is no stopping it now.

>
> A daily list of all your new friends and acquaintances sold to the
> highest bidder by whatever enterprising PI?...
>
> A video file of you dropping a bus ticket on the floor is to be emailed
> to the Magistrates for a £200 fine unless you immediately pay £100 for
> exclusive rights to the video clip...
>
> Just for two small examples...
>
>
> All on your street... How long? How soon?
>
> Cheers,
> Martin
>
>
>
> ANR: Automatic Number-plate Recognition. As seen at various supermarket
> car parks and retail parks. Also in widespread use on major road routes.
>
> PI: "Private Investigator", and usually nothing like the romantic stuff
> portrayed on TV.
>
>
>

Too friggin' right. Still haven't managed to score with Melody Anderson 
yet... though I have rubbed shoulders with some people I will not name 
on this forum (you want names, ask me to my face ;) )