Brain scanners to be used to 'design' political candidates

Sinister news today, as psychologists in the US unveil plans for so-called "neuromarketing" - the use of magnetic-resonance brainscans to maximise the appeal of products while they are being designed.

"Neuromarketing may prove to be an affordable way for marketers to gather information that was previously unobtainable, or that consumers themselves may not even be fully aware of," says Ariely, according to a statement released yesterday by Duke University, where he is based.

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"No Scan, No Flight" at British airports

It is now compulsory for people selected for a scan to take part, or they will not be allowed to fly.

Some passengers at Heathrow and Manchester airports will have to go through full body scanners before boarding their flights under new rules.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said in the immediate future only a small proportion of airline passengers would be selected for scanning.

In a written statement to the House of Commons, he said: "If a passenger is selected for scanning, and declines, they will not be permitted to fly."

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Ex-IBM Employee reveals TV Abandoned Analog Band to Make Room for RFID

(AFP/dprogram.net) According to a former 31-year IBM employee, the highly-publicized, mandatory switch from analog to digital television is mainly being done to free up analog frequencies and make room for scanners used to read implantable RFID microchips and track people and products throughout the world.

So while the American people, especially those in Texas and other busy border states, have been inundated lately with news reports advising them to hurry and get their expensive passports, “enhanced driver’s licenses,” passport cards and other “chipped” or otherwise trackable identification devices that they are being forced to own, this digital television/RFID connection has been hidden, according to Patrick Redmond.

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Court Rules That Mass Surveillance of Americans is Immune From Judicial Review

San Francisco - A federal judge has dismissed Jewel v. NSA, a case from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on behalf of AT&T customers challenging the National Security Agency's mass surveillance of millions of ordinary Americans' phone calls and emails.

"We're deeply disappointed in the judge's ruling," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "This ruling robs innocent telecom customers of their privacy rights without due process of law. Setting limits on Executive power is one of the most important elements of America's system of government, and judicial oversight is a critical part of that."

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CCTV in the sky: police plan to use military-style spy drones

Police in the UK are planning to use unmanned spy drones, controversially deployed in Afghanistan, for the ­"routine" monitoring of antisocial motorists, ­protesters, agricultural thieves and fly-tippers, in a significant expansion of covert state surveillance.

The arms manufacturer BAE Systems, which produces a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for war zones, is adapting the military-style planes for a consortium of government agencies led by Kent police.

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The Bogus Anti-Terrorist Crackdown on Financial Freedom

In the post-9/11 era, federal officials are treating cash as they would a suspected weapon of mass destruction. They have created legions of new restrictions and reporting requirements for citizens' money. But the new controls have done nothing to make Washington any more competent at protecting Americans from real threats.

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It’s Official: A Majority Of Americans Would Give Up Liberty In Order To Be Safe From Terrorism

It is now official. A majority of Americans are willing to give up liberty in order to be safer from terrorism. A stunning new McClatchy-Ipsos poll has found that 51 percent of Americans agree with this statement: "it is necessary to give up some civil liberties in order to make the country safe from terrorism."

Only 36 percent of those polled agreed with this statement: "some of the government's proposals will go too far in restricting the public's civil liberties."

So are Americans really this stupid?

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Airport body scanners could 'breach human rights'

Airport body scanners, which show the naked form of anyone who passes through them, could breach human rights, according to the UK's "equality watchdog."

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to the Home Secretary of the UK over concerns about the proposed introduction of body scanners at airports. It fears they could breach an individual's right to privacy as laid out in the Human Rights Act.

Earlier this month, Gordon Brown announced that air travellers would see the ''gradual'' introduction of body scanners at airports around Britain.

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All puppies to be microchipped according to new recommendations to Defra

An independent inquiry into dog breeding recommended that all puppies be microchipped before they are sold on. Initially this should be done on a voluntary basis with the public advised only to buy dogs that are registered. However, the report will recommend that Defra amend the Animal Welfare Act and pass it into law.

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Scanners a necessary evil, say travellers

"I'd do anything for safety," said Pari Paramasivam, while waiting for a flight to India at Pearson airport's Terminal 1.

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