Adrian@TORQEN Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Concerns are raised about the number of records being obtained and kept by the automatic number plate recognition system. The massive scale of surveillance cameras on the UK's roads has been revealed in new figures obtained by Sky News. Automatic number plate recognition - or ANPR - technology uses cameras to scan number plates and log car journeys. Whenever a car passes a camera, its registration is scanned and added to a central database, accessible by police forces. For one week in October last year, it took roughly 34 million images each day. They were added to a database that now contains at least 22 billion records. All records are kept for two years. Police are checking that database more and more. In 2014, they made 300,758 searches in this database – up from 194,317 in 2012. The Information Commissioner's Office has raised concerns over these new figures. Jonathan Bamford, head of steric liaison at the ICO, told Sky News: "You've really got to ask the question about the extent of ANPR and the amount of records that it's collecting. "There are a lot of people going around on their ordinary day to day business doing nothing wrong, innocent individuals - those are being acquired at the rate of 30 million or so a day and being retained for a number of years. "You end up with a picture where there's not a lot of our lives taking place which the state can't gain access to in some ways. So it's very, very important that there's a proper public policy debate about the extent of surveillance in the United Kingdom." ANPR was originally introduced in Northern Ireland for counter terrorism operations. A national system was introduced in March 2006. Since then, the number of records has swelled, from 35 million records in 2006, to 7.6 billion records in 2010, to more than 22 billion in 2015. The national ANPR network now receives data from 9,000 roadside cameras. These new figures, obtained under freedom of information laws, were only released by the Home Office under the threat of legal action. The Home Office also refused Sky News's requests for an interview. Instead, they gave this statement: "The Automatic Number Plate Recognition system is a valuable source of intelligence and evidence for police in the prevention and detection of crime. "Its use is subject to strict safeguards in the Data Protection Act, as well as the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice." http://news.sky.com/story/1701079/huge-scale-of-road-camera-surveillance-revealed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Good, the more the merrier if it gets untaxed, un-MOT'd and uninsured cars off the roads. Well, as well as actually catching proper criminals too! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 If you've not done anything wrong why would you object to total state surveillance? Said a spokesman for the Stasi, October 2nd, 1990. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouthwash Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 What's the big problem if they have a picture of you or your car on a record. If they had done it for your entire life in secrecy and in your dying moments they popped in to say "Alright mate just so you know, we've got all of these surveillance images of you" would you really care? I doubt it. I mean, I could follow any one of you about and take photos at my leisure as long as it's in a public place with or without your consent (obviously without causing you aggravation). It's the same as everyone driving around with a dash cam/helmet cam on. What right do they have to capture and store images of me or my possessions. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 i'm not too fussed about being ANPR'ed while i'm pootling around town. what does concern me is if two ANPR cameras 30 miles apart on the M40 start logging that everyone is doing that 30 mile journey in 20 minutes, and automatically issues half the people driving on the motorway that day a speeding ticket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydnH Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 i'm not too fussed about being ANPR'ed while i'm pootling around town. what does concern me is if two ANPR cameras 30 miles apart on the M40 start logging that everyone is doing that 30 mile journey in 20 minutes, and automatically issues half the people driving on the motorway that day a speeding ticket. I doubt that would happen, considering they weren't designed for that purpose it would probably cost far too much to calibrate accurately enough to satisfy the court... I hope. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Tbh, I'd be happy if it did. Half the reason motorways are so dangerous are the massive differences in speeds and people not expecting them. Granted, that's down to observation rather than the actual speeds themselves, but even so it honestly wouldn't bother me if they did do that. Managed motorways flow better than non-managed ones, albeit slower for those that are happy putting their foot down, so ultimately it could actually benefit the movement of people. It's a short-sighted view I know, as it's not a huge leap from there to doing the same thing on the fun roads too, but I suspect that's a whole new level of cost. Haydn's right though, the tech cannot support that right now, although it won't be that long before it can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Muxlow Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I am a firm believer of nothing to hide nothing to fear tbh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 It's like the whole email reading thing, I feel sorry for the person who potentially reads my emails, what a dull job It's only ever people with something to hide who care about these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I am a firm believer of nothing to hide nothing to fear tbh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say You don't actually have to be doing anything wrong for a data leak to destroy your reputation and your life. I'm sure you wouldn't mind me or anyone else for that matter to go through your phone and entire internet history. All of it. You've got nothing to hide. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Muxlow Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I am a firm believer of nothing to hide nothing to fear tbh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say You don't actually have to be doing anything wrong for a data leak to destroy your reputation and your life. I'm sure you wouldn't mind me or anyone else for that matter to go through your phone and entire internet history. All of it. You've got nothing to hide. When you put it like that! I was just saying if I am doing nothing wrong I have nothing to fear or hide in that respect that's all. I am not saying anything about my right to privacy, but I do understand what you are saying there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 This is why I use false number plates - problem solved 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenLandy Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 There's a village in Cornwall, where I picked up my HR, and the whole thing has got permanent average speed cameras - in a 30mph zone. Absolute PITA. I very very rarely speed in a 30, but there you were constantly looking at the speedo as the differential between speeding and not speeding at that level is so low. Gave up and put cruise control on in the end which is stupid really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) I am a firm believer of nothing to hide nothing to fear tbh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say You don't actually have to be doing anything wrong for a data leak to destroy your reputation and your life. I'm sure you wouldn't mind me or anyone else for that matter to go through your phone and entire internet history. All of it. You've got nothing to hide. You? Or a trained professional who will only ever be allowed to look if they have suitable cause and have put their case across first? They don't just go looking a random people's ebay history, forum posts, Google searches. Oh and don't worry, they don't even care if you've been looking at pornhub whilst you're supposed to have been working. Yes, we have the Edward Snowdons of the world who manage to steal data from places they shouldn't be. However they could do that at your phone network, Internet provider, employer, virus etc etc etc. Why do you think so many "undesirables" only get caught when their pcs, laptops, cameras in to shops to be worked on. There's a long process to be able to view people's personal information, unless of terrorism concerns when I'd hope it was expedited. As for cameras following you around town, they haven't actually said how many requests were granted. If 400,000 requests are made but only 200,000 are granted is it really an issue? That's 0.3% of the British population being actively looked at by the government. Some of you are paranoid. Edit:got the numbers wrong Edited May 31, 2016 by AliveBoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian@TORQEN Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 This is why I use false number plates - problem solved Or no number plate at all! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I've always said, surviellance is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman. You don't mind getting naked when it's time for business, but I wouldn't want to walk around in the buff, even if it was always warm out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Our lives nowadays are so closely tracked with various means that it would be very easy for people that could access that information to take advantage of certain things I know the "government" and police agency's control this information but it's not like there invincible. They say it's for our own protection but I imagine someone's pockets will be getting lined. Trust no one and ask questions lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Exactly what he said, this database if mined correctly would be worth millions, maybe billions of pounds. Imagine knowing the driving routes, stop offs, locations, routines, distances covered etc etc of every driver in the country, that is highly valuable data - wouldn't be surprised if its being sold to marketing companies as we speak... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Exactly ! Always find it freaky when I've been talking about something to a friend and next thing there's an advert on Facebook recommending me said product ! Technology is far too intrusive but we've been made to more or less depend on it nowadays 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 I am a firm believer of nothing to hide nothing to fear tbh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say You don't actually have to be doing anything wrong for a data leak to destroy your reputation and your life. I'm sure you wouldn't mind me or anyone else for that matter to go through your phone and entire internet history. All of it. You've got nothing to hide. You? Or a trained professional who will only ever be allowed to look if they have suitable cause and have put their case across first? They don't just go looking a random people's ebay history, forum posts, Google searches. Oh and don't worry, they don't even care if you've been looking at pornhub whilst you're supposed to have been working. Yes, we have the Edward Snowdons of the world who manage to steal data from places they shouldn't be. However they could do that at your phone network, Internet provider, employer, virus etc etc etc. Why do you think so many "undesirables" only get caught when their pcs, laptops, cameras in to shops to be worked on. There's a long process to be able to view people's personal information, unless of terrorism concerns when I'd hope it was expedited. As for cameras following you around town, they haven't actually said how many requests were granted. If 400,000 requests are made but only 200,000 are granted is it really an issue? That's 3% of the British population being actively looked at by the government. Some of you are paranoid. Edit:got the numbers wrong It's not paranoia. It happens every day that Barristers and Lawyers, with the help of the authorities take 'evidence' out of context and hang you for it. They can paint a picture of you by taking a fraction of your internet history, and say that you are any person they wish to paint. I like browsing 4Chan. Been on it for years. The amount of negative headlines 4Chan has generated over the years would fill a book. In court, any clever Barrister can paint me as an anti-establishment anarchist with a penchant for criminality "and the defendant could reasonabaly be presumed to be involved in cyber attacks on XYZ as he was on the site on the day in question" They only have to say that, and all the technologically illiterate people would believe it. Truth? I like the funnies on there. Guilt by association. Happens in courts ever day. Fact is, I don't believe in big government. I don't believe they have any right to have access to my life, just because I was born on this island. Too many people sell out to be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Barristers and lawyers have been doing that for years, technology or not. That's their job. Tbh, if anyone thinks that their entire internet history isn't already being tracked and monitored by some agency somewhere in the world, you're a bit naive. As AliveBoy said, if they're looking at mine then I hope they're either hyped up on coffee or really like cat pictures 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenLandy Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Just start using the Tor browser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Can you imagine if they did monitor your internet history and told you, you spend 96.2% of your time on this forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian@TORQEN Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) Can you imagine if they did monitor your internet history and told you, you spend 96.2% of your time on this forum. He's not on this forum only, he's on many other websites http://www.drugs.com/international/ekona.html http://www.otherplaceforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1798 Edited May 25, 2016 by Adrian@TORQEN 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 So many forums, so little time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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