The biggest issue this week at BBW Towers was the launch of the 2011 census, a 32 page form on which the government demand you outline your proficiency in English, the state of your health, when you last worked, the identities of your overnight guests and the type of central heating you have.
Those who fail to complete the form are liable for fines of up to £1000 and a criminal conviction.
Throughout the week, we have made the case against this unwanted piece of state intrusion, with appearances on the Today programme, BBC News and ITV, as well as significant national media coverage.
Big Brother Watch competition
While the majority of the questions on the census are compulsory, you will not be forced to tell the government what your religion is. Indeed, there will be an "other" box provided in order for you to write in your own response.
BBW would like to offer a prize of a free copy of our new book to the person to come up with the best comment to enter into the "other" box.
Please e-mail your answers to info@bigbrotherwatch.org.uk or reply directly to this e-mail!
If you can't wait to find out if you've won, you can always buy the book on Amazon for the bargain basement price of only £6.50...
And finally...
As always, if you are interested in contributing a blog post to BBW's website or would like to contact the team for any other reason, you can find our details on www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk.
Blogs of the Week
The government must protect patient privacy
Before the last general election, the now Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley announced that an incoming Conservative government would "dismantle" the Summary Care Record database of our medical data.
Sadly, the coalition government performed a disgraceful u-turn less than a month after they took office and declared they would continue building the SCR after all.
Not content with building a vast database of personal medical information which could be accessed by thousands of people, the Telegraph this morning reports the British Medical Association's concerns about new legislation which would hand the Government, quangos and local authorities the power to access sensitive medical details without the patient’s permission"
Nano Hummingbirds - the latest crime-fighting phenomena
Earlier this month, Elliot Marguson's frankly rather terrifyinb guest post on the Big Brother Watch blog alerted readers to the increasing - and downright Orwellian - use of spy drones as a tool of law enforcement.
The Sydney Morning Herald brings further news in this respect, detailing the development of a 'Nano Hummingbird' by the US Pentagon which "could one day do reconnaissance by landing on a window ledge".
Tunisia, Egypt, Libya…. Why Eritrea won’t be next
Commentators are scanning maps of North Africa and the Middle East trying to identify where the next public protests against a repressive regime will break out.
Eritrea seems an obvious candidate. It’s been governed by President Isaias, without any hint of democracy, since 1991. The Mo Ibrahim Index ranks Eritrea as the worst country in the world for human rights. (Even Somalia was better.) Reporters Sans Frontieres put Eritrea at the bottom of their press freedom index. The country is now second worst in the world for education provision according to the Global Campaign for Education, and the Global Hunger Index rates Eritrea as one of only four countries in the world where the levels of hunger are "extremely alarming".
Local council loses data (part 481)
The Information Commissioner has, today, ruled against Cambridgeshire County Council for breaching the Data Protection Act.
The council was reprimanded for losing a memory stick containing the personal details of vulnerable adults under the care of the council. The information in question included "note and minutes of meetings relating to the individuals' support".
Media Coverage
Daniel Hamilton on the Today programme with John Humphreys and Jim Naughtie on BBC Radio 4 debating the launch of the 2011 census with the National Census Director Glenn Watson (click here to listen).
Daniel Hamilton discussed the launch of the 2011 census on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Coventry and Warwickshire, Humberside, Lancashire, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sussex and Three Counties.
Alex Deane addressed the Freedom Association's 'Free Spirits' event about the Freedom Bill and the work of Big Brother Watch.
Daniel Hamilton spoke to students from the London College of Communications about Big Brother Watch's concerns about the 2011 census.
Daily Express - Census spies will track every home (click here to view)
Daily Star - May the forms be with you (click image to view)
The Independent - First question on the census form:is there any point to it? (click image to view)
Daily Mail - £1,000 fine if you refuse to answer census questions (click image to view)
The Times - Census widens its reach by using 60 languages [not available online]
Daniel Hamilton, campaign director of the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: "At 32 pages, the Census includes intrusive questions on your proficiency in English, your health, when you last worked, the identities of your overnight guests and the type of central heating you have.
"The Government has no need - and no right - to know this information.
This census is a monumental waste of time and money."
BBC News - 2011 census awareness campaign to be launched
But Daniel Hamilton, from campaign group Big Brother Watch, told the BBC the census was a "very intrusive" way of simply duplicating information already available from sources like the electoral register, school records and tax returns.
He also said three million people had failed to fill out the 2001 form and some 300,000 had listed their religion as "Jedi".
"There's no reason to think that the British public will take this census more seriously than the last one," he added.
The Western Mail - No force can stop Jedi census answer, admits 2011 director [not available online]
Daniel Hamilton, campaign director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: "At 32 pages, the census includes intrusive questions on your proficiency in English, your health, when you last worked, the identities of your overnight guests and the type of central heating you have.
"It is a monumental waste of time and money. A large number of the questions duplicate data already held by the authorities on databases such as the electoral register, school records and tax returns."
D aily Mail - £1,000 fine if you fail to fill out 32-page census form
Daniel Hamilton, campaign director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch said: 'At 32 pages, the census includes intrusive questions on your proficiency in English, your health, when you last worked, the identities of your overnight guests and the type of central heating you have.
'This census is a monumental waste of time and money. A large number of the questions duplicate data already held by the authorities on databases such as the electoral register, school records, tax returns and GP information.'
Filling out the census is compulsory, with the threat of a fine of up to £1,000 if a questionnaire is not completed and returned. However, only 38 people were convicted for not filling out the census last time after the ONS reported a little over 100 people to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Hamilton said the threat was 'entirely hollow'.
Express - The Census is just a licence to snoop on British people
As the organisation Big Brother Watch, which has fought a long campaign against the census, puts it: “A large number of the questions duplicate data already held by the authorities on databases such as the electoral register, school records, tax returns and GP information.”
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I must admit, 10years ago I was an ignorant 'Jedi'. I have since seen the light and have now converted to the 'Smoker' religion. We are a persecuted minority and deserve official recognition.
Posted by: nemesis | 26/02/2011 at 07:56 PM
I am now a Passive Smoker, and as such wish distinction to be drawn between myself and like-minded followers, who are clean-living and healthy of lung, and the Smokers, who are doomed to fire and heat for all time; so there!
Posted by: Mike Cunningham | 27/02/2011 at 04:58 PM
I promise not to complete the census.
Posted by: Richard Craven | 01/03/2011 at 12:03 PM
Likewise.
Posted by: Alex Deane | 01/03/2011 at 12:09 PM