[Reader-list] Re: on identification and social control

[Monica Narula]

On a purely anecdotal note - without defining what 'freedom' can mean 
- i would like to share a recent experience where i felt that the 
fabric of this 'freedom' was made somewhat grubby, or at least that's 
what it feels like to me.

A few days ago i decided to shift from a 'pay per call' refillable 
card on my cellphone (another development after much battle in the 
mind - both for health and social performance reasons!!) to a 
'normal' connection, for reasons both of long term cheapness and 
efficiency. So i reached the nearby representative of the biggest 
connection vendor in town. I was first given a form to fill up that, 
as i expected, asked of me a deal of personal information which it is 
the wont of institutions to ask. Very well.

After all the paperwork i am told that the bill will reach my 
residence (very convenient!) and from tomorrow, voila, i am one of 
the many.

After a few days, on Sunday evening, the doorbell rings to reveal the 
friendly neighbourhood Phone man. I was not told that someone would 
come checking on me at home. He seats himself and proceeds to ask me 
to confirm old data - fair enough - but also demands as right even 
more data - such as if i own a credit card, etc. When asked the exact 
purpose of this investigation, there are 2 reasons:
1. verification of me and my address ( i am reminded of police 
verification for a passport.)
2. To stop misuse of the phone. (This is amusing. Surely if i want to 
use a cell phone for match fixing, i will do it through a phone with 
a pre-paid card and not even get into this kind of traceability...)

And then he pulls the rabbit out of the hat and i am completely 
charmed - i can pay my bills electronically. I only have to provide 
my bank details, my bank account number and the specific sorting code 
that my bank uses, they will have the bill cleared - with my 
permission, of course - without my having to bother to sign and 
deliver a cheque anywhere. No fear of late payment fines or being 
disconnected!! I cannot but agree to this flawlessly efficient scheme.

Even as i realise the fact that all my personal data is reaching a 
bank which is creating yet another page in my virtual file, yet 
another piece in the jigsaw that will create a nicely highlighted 
picture of me, i am unable, even unwilling, to fight the argument of 
efficiency and ease. i have little time to myself - why should any of 
that go in dropping off cheques?

I am, then, responsible for making grubby my own freedom...

-- 
Monica Narula
Sarai:The New Media Initiative
29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110 054
www.sarai.net