Surveilance Society Strikes Again

[semiotic_pirate]

Yet another tidbit I was unaware of... found in this article.

He [Jonathan Zittrain] cited the example of the OnStar car tracking system, designed to help US motorists navigate and get automatic help if needed.

"In the US the FBI required that one of the companies that offered this system reprogram it so they could monitor people they were interested in.

"From the FBI's point of view it's just a roving bug. But you start to realise the change in the ability of somebody to monitor you."


In other news... I find out that Japan has the highest national suicide rate in the world. Such a tiny country too. Anyone want to posit why this is the case?

Comments

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

On Japan I'd lay odds it's a combination of extremely stressful work culture (the gruelling schedule even school aged teens go through seems quite ridiculous for many) coupled with a society that doesn't overly ecnourage overt emotional venting. Add in less social taboo of suicide and it may come together

Of course, some of the scandinavian countries have huge suicide rates and I can't even begin to pin point them other than dark winters and SAD.