[Reader-list] Britain To Put CCTV Cameras Inside Private Homes

[Nishant]

Britain To Put CCTV Cameras Inside Private Homes
By Charlie Sorrel

As an ex-Brit, I’m well aware of the authorities’ love of surveillance
and snooping, but even I, a pessimistic cynic, am amazed by the
governments latest plan: to install Orwell’s telescreens in 20,000
homes.

£400 million ($668 million) will be spend on installing and monitoring
CCTV cameras in the homes of private citizens. Why? To make sure the
kids are doing their homework, going to bed early and eating their
vegetables. The scheme has, astonishingly, already been running in
2,000 family homes. The government’s “children’s secretary” Ed Balls
is behind the plan, which is aimed at problem, antisocial families.
The idea is that, if a child has a more stable home life, he or she
will be less likely to stray into crime and drugs.

It gets worse. The government is also maintaining a private army,
incredibly not called “Thought Police”, which will “be sent round to
carry out home checks,” according to the Sunday Express. And in a
scheme which firmly cements the nation’s reputation as a “nanny
state”, the kids and their families will be forced to sign “behavior
contracts” which will “set out parents’ duties to ensure children
behave and do their homework.”

And remember, this is the left-wing government. The Shadow Home
Secretary Chris Grayling, batting for the conservatives, thinks these
plans are “too little, and too late,” implying that even more
obtrusive work needs to be done. Rumors that a new detention center,
named Room 101, is being constructed inside the Ministry of Love are
unconfirmed.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/08/britain-to-put-cctv-cameras-inside-private-homes/