Tue, Feb 18, 2003
International Contest Fixin' to Find Out
We've all been there. Standing for ages in a security line at an
inconsequential office building only to be given a security pass
that a high school student could have faked. Or being forced to
take off our shoes at an airport that can't even screen its
luggage.
If you thought the accounting profession was bad
news, just wait 'til you hear how stupid the security industry has
become. Even before 9/11 a whole army of bumbling amateurs has
taken it upon themselves to figure out pointless, annoying,
intrusive, illusory and just plain stupid measures to "protect" our
security.
It's become a global menace. From the nightclub in Berlin that
demands the home address of its patrons, to the phone company in
Britain that won't let anyone pay more than fifty pounds a month
from a bank account, to the TSA's requiring fingerprinting of local
pilots who wish to use their own airports, the world has become
infested with bumptious administrators' competing to hinder or
harass you -- and often for no good reason whatever.
The sensitive and sensible folk at Privacy International have
endured enough of this treatment. So until March 15th
2003, they are running an international competition to
discover the world's most pointless, intrusive, stupid and
self-serving security measures.
The competition is open to anyone. Winners will be announced at
the 13th Computers, Freedom & Privacy conference in New York on
April 3rd.
Nominations should be as specific as possible, mentioning the
name of the guilty parties, and wherever possible, including
evidence and references.
Any government or private sector initiative or action can be
nominated. Legislation and technology can also be nominated.
The judges welcome nominations in the form of narratives and
anecdotes.
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