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Microsoft Tries To Charm EU With Future Visions

RedStar writes "BBC Online has a piece on Microsoft's visions of the future as shown to Euro MPs in a charm operation." From the article: "This is more a new concept than a new technology, and the real version may still be a year or two away. It would track the mobile phone signals of loved ones, then cross-reference which mobile cell they were in with pre-programmed locations, like the home, school, or workplace. Ms Sellen added: 'This is not very specific at all about where people are, and that's deliberate. We don't want to invade people's privacy too much, so we deliberately keep things very coarse grained.'"

9 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. Mix that..... by scenestar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    with the data retention laws and you have a totalitarian's wet dream.

    --
    perpetually dwelling in the -1 pits
    1. Re:Mix that..... by TCM · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ..or a criminal's worst nightmare.

      That's 100% correct. What I fear is just that the definition of "criminal" will change to include normal citizens pretty fast.

      How's that for yet another look at it?

      --
      Of course it runs NetBSD. BTC: 1NT7QvbetmANwaMzhpVL6
  2. You're misunderstanding! by oahazmatt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It would track the mobile phone signals of loved ones, then cross-reference which mobile cell they were in with pre-programmed locations, like the home, school, or workplace.

    We don't want to be Big Brother. We want to make the tools so you can be Big Brother!

    --
    Those who believe the Internet is private,
    find their privates are on the Internet.
    1. Re:You're misunderstanding! by AuMatar · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you need a tool like this in order to parent, you've already failed.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
  3. Love that quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "don't want to invade people's privacy TOO MUCH"

    Emphasis mine, of course. But that's just so telling, isn't it?

  4. Bwahahaha by somethinghollow · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We don't want to invade people's privacy too much

    Yes. We want to invade their privacy just the right amount. :\

  5. Read that as "future versions" by PurifyYourMind · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But on a more serious note, people here might be surprised that UK people (at least those in London, if I recall correctly), aren't as worried about privacy/spying issues as you might think. London has had hundreds of cameras in its metro area to prevent crime. I think it would be a little worrying if it recorded political protests or other citizen-sensitive events. But overall I imagine there's a reduction in person-to-person crime there.

    1. Re:Read that as "future versions" by TeacherOfHeroes · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Just keep in mind that theres a bit of a difference between casually observing a public environment with a camera, and trackinging you in particular where ever you go by turning your cell phone into a 24/7 tracking device.

      My question is, will cellphones start to not turn off when the cell phone is "off". Will "off" now mean "really low power mode" - just enough to keep transmitting?

  6. It's not tracking *you*... by Froggy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...it's only tracking your phone. As such, it's pretty easy to avoid "surveillance": just leave the thing behind. Of course that means people can't ring you, but if you're really worried about your privacy you maybe don't want to be connected 24/7 anyway.

    Me, I lose the damn thing all the time anyway. "Where's Mama today? Oh look, she's been dropped behind the couch again."

    --
    It is a woman's prerogative to change other people's minds.