Archives: 2010

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In the middle of the most drastic budget cuts since the great depression, with billions being slashed from education and welfare, the Interception Modernisation Programme is coming back to life like some horror movie monster.

Yes, it would seem that Labour’s Orwellian program to monitor everyone’s internet activity has been resurrected by the coalition government to the tune of 2 Billion pounds. This despite pre-election promises by the Liberal Democrats (who seem to have been entirely subsumed into their host party).

To say that this is disappointing is an understatement, and for what good it’ll do there is of course a petition. Given that this new government doesn’t seem to mind if its unpopular, I doubt a petition will do much good.

The coalition has made it abundantly clear where its priorities are.

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As I remarked in a previous tweet, people these days seem surprised when you say you’re not on The Book. So, as I came back after seeing a friend and yet another person asked me to add them as a friend on Facebook, I thought I might reconsider my previous position.

So I signed up… typed in my name, email address etc… and what did I see?

I saw a list of “suggested friends”, which was essentially everyone I knew before I deleted my account, as well as a bunch of people I knew but hadn’t connected to.. the social graph in action I guess.

I would be interested to find out where this information was obtained if my account was truly deleted, from my former connections? But surely, I could be any Marcus Povey? True, emails are “unique”, but I’m fairly sure that at least half of the suggested connections never knew my email address (social graph again)… besides, that’s missing the point.

To be clear, at the very least Facebook is remembering my name/age or email address as unique identifiers, and who I am connected to. So while the delete account option may remove your pictures etc, it clearly doesn’t remove the connection data – which I have previously stated is actually quite a powerful and private bit of information.

Am I alone in being a little freaked out by this?

Clearly, even though they provide a way of deleting your account, much of the important connective information is retained. Your account still isn’t being deleted.

In other words; “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”.

Suffice it to say, I reconsidered my reconsideration. I deleted my account again (for what good it will do), my first instinct was correct.

I guess people are just going to have to email me.

Old Skool.

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This weekend was Barcamp Oxford, and suffice it to say it was utterly fantastic. While a delicious ham cooks, I just thought I’d jot down some notes.

The day for me started early on Saturday with a walk into town (Oxford’s buses being resoundingly useless), still it was a lovely sunny day and I had some good tunes on my mp3 player so I didn’t mind working on my tan for a while.

Anywho, got to the Oxford Club in time for registration and for the slots to be put up… a dizzying array of very interesting possible discussions were soon put up.

Obviously I couldn’t go to all the sessions, but those I did go to were fantastically useful.

Highlights were a thought provoking, passionate and mature discussion of women in technology, and education in general. Additionally, met a bunch of very cool people who I hope to keep in touch with!

The beeper has just gone on my oven so I must tend to my food. Suffice it to say, I found the event both highly enjoyable, stimulating and very very useful.

Props to all the people who worked so hard to make this happen, you are all awesome!

Same time next year?

Image by Sylwia Presley