THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ‘PRIVACY’

I am an old man and thankful that I have lived most of my life in a context where PRIVACY WAS PRIVACY. Privacy wasn’t talked about like it is these days, but it was a quality or an entitlement that we had.

No longer. There is a lot of talk about ensuring and guaranteeing privacy, but that is all pie in the sky. Governments, agencies and instrumentalities know everything about everyone. Watching and listening devices are everywhere. From cameras to drones to satellites, there is nothing about anyone that is not discoverable.

The latest quirk is that of the Brisbane City Council wanting CCTV cameras to be enhanced or supported by listening devices so that passers-by can be both seen and heard. If that intrusion is allowed, watch it proliferate into other cities towns and centres which are under surveillance.

George Orwell got it wrong. He only imagined half of what it would be like in his ‘1984’ It’s much, much MUCH more intrusive than he ever prognosticated.

I praise the Lord that at least my thoughts are still private but fear the day will come when the innermost of human sanctums will be desecrated by intrusion.