Census 2011: Is Big Brother watching from across the Atlantic?

[keith_d]

I heard an interesting rumour about the 2011 census recently.

The company doing the data processing for the 2011 census is a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, who are a US company, and subject to the provisions of US Law (including FISA and PATRIOT). So if the US government want to take a look at our census details Lockheed Martin could be required to hand them over and there's not a whole lot the British government could do about it except fine them after the event.

Anyone got a better understanding of the US legal system care to comment??

Keith.

[MiniMatt]

Not a rumour as far as the operators go. As far as the data snooping goes I couldn't say.

Though it's worth remembering that there is a long (rumoured) history of US intelligence spying on UK citizens and vice versa and then feeding interesting tit-bits back between governments just so both can say "oh no, we don't spy on our own citizens". I suspect anything found in the census would be of very limited intelligence value compared to what they (tinfoil) already have.

[SoulKiss]

I heard an interesting rumour about the 2011 census recently.

The company doing the data processing for the 2011 census is a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, who are a US company, and subject to the provisions of US Law (including FISA and PATRIOT). So if the US government want to take a look at our census details Lockheed Martin could be required to hand them over and there's not a whole lot the British government could do about it except fine them after the event.

Anyone got a better understanding of the US legal system care to comment??

Keith.

If you know this - ie that the data you complete on your confidential form will go to a foreign government, does that make it Treason to complete and fill in the form?

[MiniMatt]

If you know this - ie that the data you complete on your confidential form will go to a foreign government, does that make it Treason to complete and fill in the form?

Think that depends whether you consider your personal details to be state secrets under the Official Secrets Act or somesuch :D

If you've been fooling us all along and you're actually the head of MI5 then they may just be :D

[toxic]

If you've been to Amerika recently, last 8 years, they have your thumbprint and retinal scan already.

[SoulKiss]

Think that depends whether you consider your personal details to be state secrets under the Official Secrets Act or somesuch :D

If you've been fooling us all along and you're actually the head of MI5 then they may just be :D

According to the Census info I know, after processing they will be subject to the 100 years locked away in a dark place not available for reading.

That counts as Confidential to me - and surely Treason can be applied to handing Confidential Documents to a Foreign Agency/

[davepreston]

If you've been to Amerika recently, last 8 years, they have your thumbprint and retinal scan already.
been a few times and they dont have either :)

[toxic]

I don't mean crossing the Rio Grande at night.

[thulfi]

been a few times and they dont have either :)

Really? How did you get past customs?

[timwilky]

Well they got my scans, I had a choice, comply and allow them taken or go home

[SoulKiss]

This makes interesting watching

http://rt.com/news/census-britain-lockheed-martin/

[Bibio]

so we are giving a US company £240m... for what?

£240m could have done a looooot of good for our NHS.

[SoulKiss]

so we are giving a US company £240m... for what?

£240m could have done a looooot of good for our NHS.

Its only £160 million - the 240 us the Dollar conversion

So no need to panic - have a cup of tea :p

[Bibio]

ooohhh well if its only £160m then thats fine :rolleyes: