March 10 2008 by The Systemic Analyst.

Is there a day that goes by where yet another useless “security” measure isn’t announced somewhere in the world? National biometric ID card schemes, unlimited dragnet wiretapping, CCTV cameras everywhere and anywhere - and to what avail? None of these measures will actually increase security. Traditional reactionary approaches can barely keep up with apprehending criminals after the fact, how can they be expected to prevent crime and terrorism simply because the measure is expanded or put into more widespread use? Whatever happened to the idea of quality over quantity, anyway? There must be some global department whose sole responsibilities it is to develop useless measures and brand them as “security”.

Clearly, the TTC has access to its recommendation as the commission recently announced its plans to implement 10,000 cameras in trains, streetcars and buses across the city in addition to the existing 1,500 at a cost of $21 million. Apparently, the system will not be monitored and, assures TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, only the police will have access to the footage. 

So, what’s the point of the system?

If the system is to act as a deterrent, as in the little signs posted near the camera telling people “you’re on camera” cause would-be criminals to rethink their actions, then expect only rebellious suburban teens to be deterred. As a result, the drop in crime rate due to the use of these cameras will be negligible, at best. Psychopaths, pathological criminals, drunks and terrorists won’t care about the cameras, only “normal” people who carefully consider odds and consequences will find themselves unnerved by the constant watch.

Besides, with no one there to actually apprehend criminals (and apparently no one manning the cameras), how useful is the system even after the fact? In terms of solving crimes, CCTV cameras have proven to be very ineffective as upwards of 80% of the images are of such poor quality that accurate identification cannot be made. Rendering the system considerably ineffective.

Of course, if the headlines are any indication CCTV does offer something - unlimited fulfillment of human fascinations with brutality, murder and sex. Just think, Toronto too will now be able to offer headlines of the latest act of public sex or murder caught on camera with its 72 million hours of CCTV footage taped a year! Seen in that light, it’s no wonder why Giambrone told the Toronto Star ”It would be unusual if only Toronto were segregated when every major city with a transit authority has a surveillance system.” Who wants to miss out on that blockbuster opportunity?

As a security analyst, however, I’d appreciate it if those implementing systems like CCTV would start labelling them more appropriately, as sensationalist measures, for example. All of these attempts to push measures through under the very serious guise of security is giving our profession a bad name.  

Posted in Identity Management, Wiretapping & Surveillance, Biometrics, North America | No Comments »

March 10 2008 by The Systemic Analyst.

The Serbian parliament was dissolved due to a split among what was the governing coalition. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica was unable to gain majority support for not continuing to move towards joining the E.U. The country’s president, Boris Tadic, is perhaps the leading elite voice calling for Serbia to look West. Ultimately, through new “snap” elections the Serbian people will for once be able to decide somewhat the future course of their country. 

The outcome of these elections, which are expected to be announced early this week, will be telling. Although Tadic claims that the people already decided to “go West” with his presidential election victory in early February, the unilateral claim of Kosovar independence on February 17th might have changed the ending to this story. Furthermore, to what degree Serbians truly felt confident in continued pursuit of entry into the E.U. is up for debate, after all, Tadic failed to clinch his victory in the first round of elections securing only 35.39% of the vote to the Serbian Radical Party’s Tomislav Nikolic’s 39.99%. Indeed, it was only in the second round of elections which was essentially a run off that Tadic was able to win 51.19% of the vote to Nikolic’s 48.81%. With such a small margin it isn’t unreasonable to assume that Kosovo might now have become that extra push many Serbs needed to throw them into the arms of right-wing nationalists.

And why not? If one cared to look at this from a Serbian perspective they would quickly realize that, if not the E.U. at least several major European countries have consistently been early recognizers of breakaway republics (and now province) of former Yugoslavia - often taking with them sizeable Serbian minorities. Far from understanding what this has meant to the ethnic Serbs caught on the wrong side of newly staked international borders, the Serbian people have been cast as the villain in every subsequent conflict. Indeed, to the Serbs the E.U. (along with the U.S.) can be seen as  a violator, every time it comes near it takes another piece of Serbia with it.

And yet despite this history, the E.U. continues to remain hopeful that Serbia will come around, accept defeat and join them in a happy greater Europe. It’s a bit like the rapist asking his victim to marry him, isn’t it? Maybe that’s the E.U.’s plan, after all aren’t wives immune from testifying against their husbands? Perhaps the E.U. hopes Serbia will stop talking (or what the E.U. undoubtedly believes to be crying) after the wedding.

In any event, it isn’t a decision I would like to make. Serbia has been left with few options - isolation or a shot-gun wedding.
 

Posted in Europe, Politics | No Comments »

March 10 2008 by The Systemic Analyst.

ZDNet News published the following update on U.K. ID card plans:

“Home secretary Jacqui Smith also announced on Thursday that compulsory ID cards for all British citizens may now be delayed until 2015, subject to a future Parliamentary vote.

But the government still intends to force foreign nationals living in Britain to register their biometric details on the National Identity Register and carry an ID card by the end of this year.

Smith also set out plans to issue ID cards to people working in airports and other high security-risk areas from next year, a plan that has come under fire from trade unions.

After that the target is students and young people, who will voluntarily have the option of registering for an ID card from 2010.

Anyone renewing or applying for a new passport from 2011 onwards will be required to add their biometric details to the National Identity Register, but they won’t now be forced to pay for a physical ID card and can instead choose to just use their passport.

The government estimates the combined cost of getting a biometric passport and ID card would be around £100.

For the few who are likely to actually want a standalone biometric ID card, they will also have the option of paying to get one without getting a new passport.

The latest ID card consultation plans also reveal that people will face fines of up to £1,000 for missing appointments to register their biometric details on the National Identity Register.”

Why so few people seem to have realized the futility of using identity cards as a preventative measure in the “war on terrorism” is beyond me. Identity as a basis for national security measures is only as solid as identity is fixed. Biometric identifiers cannot and will not truly make identity a firm concept - how can it? A fingerprint or an iris scan can just as well be attached to a fraudulent official identity as to a legitimate one. Makes one wonder, what’s the point?

Posted in Identity Management, Biometrics, Europe, Politics | No Comments »