Conclusion

Abstract

Socio-technical systems for the collection, storage, analysis and mobilisation of information on specific populations are increasing rapidly in number and scope. Systems for the regulation of identification (such as biometrics), movement (such as traffic management) and nonmovement (such as airport security), disposal (such as waste management), saving (such as banking regulations), spending (such as point of sale machines) and retrieval (such as illegal download tracking) form just some of the many developments in this area. In line with this systemic expansion has come a rapidly developing legislative environment characterised by rapidly expanding funding for forms of data protection and monitoring. Alongside these legislative endeavours the industry of protest has grown significantly with ever greater number of organisations, websites, publications and public protests dedicated towards antagonising socio-technical systems of information collection.