Mind you, there’s a major point still missing from the Privacy Policy: all the “little brothers” of the corporate data mining world which are perhaps more disturbing than the potential “big brothers” of the global intelligence community.

The latter are generally filled with people who are indoctrinated with the ideals of Doing Good, and while there’s the potential for extreme corruption there are also internal controls — though whether they’re sufficient or effective is another issue. The corporate data miners exist solely to make profit.

I’ll write more about this very, very soon…

The stuff not even as hardcore as ECHELON is bad enough. Twenty to thirty years time is going to see so many politicians scrambling to cover their teenage MySpace tracks.

Most likely, and this is totally unrelated to your Privacy Policy, it’s going to lead to a whole bunch of new bland Howard/Rudd type politicians (the only people who used MySpace without leaving any dirty tracks behind — it’ll be sort of Darwinian).

You can probably lay claim to the most informative (and interesting) Privacy Policy on the net now too.

Interesting though. I had not idea that websites collected that amount of detailed information.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go construct a hat out of tinfoil, build some kind of fortified bunker and start stockpiling food and ammunition…

@Quatrefoil: Good point about copyright. I shall amend the copyright notice soonishly to reflect that I only hold copyright in what I write and photograph.

@Eric TF Bat: Ah but I will allow your comment to pass because I only may choose not to publish it. And your rant is worthwhile! “Mangle sputum glossop!” to you too!

Yeah the “Can I link” thing gets me. A link it like saying “There are these words or pictures on page 78 of a book.” Statement of fact. Mind you, some companies try to assert that you have to link only to their home page. Such companies are… odd.

@Bernard: Thank you. The words have been forming in my mind for ages. For some reason last night a wave of stress was lifted and the Muse struck. I’ve actually been up most of the night writing. More soon.

Maybe it’s the eclipse…

Our spook levies at work in a more productive manner.

The UK’s privacy laws - or should i say “privacy (removal) laws” are abominable, however the UK always has been pretty heavy handed in such regards. Admittedly it was easier in the old days when the Chaps network controlled things quite nicely.

I tend to disagree with your opening gambit “In Cyberspace anyone can see your undies”. It is only that way because “we” have let “them” “do this” to “us”. Will expand on that later. For now - I have a meeting to lob some logic grenades into.

btw - damn good explo of things. Specially for 2am.

I may choose not to publish your comment:

If you’re making personal attacks.If you’re way off the topic of the discussion.If you seem incapable of assembling a coherent sentence.If you don’t say much beyond “That’s nice,” or “Yeah I agree,” or “That’s crap.” By all means tell me what you think, but explain yourself.If I’m in a bad mood.For any goddam reason I like.

Aha! A challenge!

Stilgherrian, you ugly bastard! (#1) Dame Edna is a legend! (#2) Mangle sputum glossop! (#3) You’re completely right! (#4) Laurel Papworth has better tits than you! (#5, surely!)

But how to trigger #6? Nope, I’m stumped.

Incidentally: I love your privacy policy. I’m going to link to it from my site, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me! Bwahahahahahahaha!!![1]

[1] I hate the ignorant futtocks who ask “can I link to that from my Geocites/Facebook/AOL page?” Of course you can link to it, you steaming great git! What do you think the internet is for? Asking for permission to link to someone’s web page is like asking the security guard at the Louvre for permission to look at the pictures on the wall. Stupid!