Information & Privacy

Friday night is movie night. Unfortunately, I had to open a new account at a video store and discovered that they require my most deepest secrets before they will allow me to borrow a DVD. I was concerned that I had to divulge so much of my personal details they even required next of kin information. This all of course for the sake of safety and security. I reluctantly succumbed after all, I wanted the DVD. But all this got me thinking as to how many times I have willingly parted with my personal details over the telephone, at supermarkets filling out competitions only to be hounded later by telemarketers. Of course we are promised that the information is dealt with the utmost confidentiality. I notice that the same trend is happening with social networking sites.

More often we are required to part with personal information in the name of better security. We now all have to register our cellphones (RICA) in an attempt to curb cellphone theft or risk losing your service. More recently, this morning in fact, I here Gauteng is launching a pilot whereby all number plates has to be renewed with a new micro chipped plate that will store the driver's details. This to avoid illegal duplication of number plates. The cost would be a mere R1600 to coincide with the renewal of driver's licences. If successful it will be roled out to other provinces.

Concerned? I feel uncomfortable with the idea that personal information will be buried in a chip on my number plate. Would you place the keys to your car or home on your number plate? We are all too familiar with the cloning of credit cards...what makes us think that criminals will not be able to do the same with number plates? What freedoms are we willingly parting with for the sake of safety and security?...