.random[oid]archive

Slashdot writes:

Police officers in the Australian state of Queensland plan to conduct a ‘wardriving’ mission around select towns in an effort to educate citizens to secure their wireless networks. When unsecured networks are found, the Police will pay a friendly visit to the household or small business, informing them of the risks they are exposing themselves to. Officers also hope to return to surveyed areas within a month to see if users have fixed their security settings. The idea is modelled on another campaign where officers walk around railway stations checking cars have been locked, and leaving notes warning people of the dangers involved with leaving their vehicles unsecured.

When I read this I couldn’t help laughing at the idea. They deserve respect for wanting to help people secure their wireless router, but is that really what we are paying them to do? If you can’t operate a wireless router or a computer without having the police coming knocking at your door, then you should either learn how to use them or be not allowed to use them until you learn.
I know that is a bit harsh, but I have no respect for computer illiterate people. You can learn anything you want, as long as you are willing.

The fact that the police is wasting time trying to educate computer illiterates is the least of my worries. What will they police next? Will they see to it that you dress properly when you are at home? Maybe they can monitor your phone so you only use correct speak; no swearing, no hearsay, no blasphemy, just mundane informative talk.
We don’t have to learn to take responsibility at all or learn from our mistakes now, because the police and the government will be telling us what is correct and accepted very.

I’m certain that some of you are shaking your fist at what I’m writing, saying that I’m exaggerating and the police are just being helpful. Then don’t forget that not long too ago you could do the following on an airplane:
- Smoke and bring matches and/or lighters
- Bring more than 1dl of unsealed water
- Bring a knife and other sharp objects
Also, in most big cities you could take pictures of more or less whatever you wanted to without being harassed and accused of being a terrorist. Don’t forget that opening addressed mail (snail mail) is illegal in most countries, still. We weren’t watched by CCTV 24/7.

What is normal for us now, was far from normal and seen as invasive just 15 years ago. We get so used to having these boundaries pushed that we sadly care less and less about our rights as humans. I’m pretty sure Orwell is spinning around in his grave like a tornado at the moment. We are sadly making his novella ’1984′ more into a reality than a work of fiction that it was when he wrote it.

It scares me that so many countries are leaning towards an Orwellian society.
I suggest that those who find an Orwellian society something to work towards should live in a country where the government controls everything; just to see if they really understand what they are doing and want to force their fellow humans to live like this.

I’m also curious what happens if you inform the police that you are fine to have your wireless router unsecured as you want to share your connection and don’t have a problem with it.
I have an extra router lying around, so maybe I should consider it, just to see what happens. Before I do that I need to know if there are any risks of course. I would love to have that debate with the police, just to check their knowledge. If they are going to enforce something, they better know what they are talking about.

Australia is sadly known to ban games and books that they don’t see acceptable. They have still not decided if they are going to filter the Internet like they do in China. Now they are coming to your home to see if you have secured your equipment enough.
I hope it never happens, but if Australia starts burning games, films and books I won’t be surprised.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
- Benjamin Franklin