The month of June is upon us and on the 25th I'll be heading to Oxfordshire for a picnic beside the grave of Eric Arthur Blair. This will be the eighth year running where a number of us have made the pilgrimage to share in a conversation on George Orwell's birthday. A mini informal symposium. A chat around mass surveillance, consumer data and our civil liberties. Accompanied of course with … [Read more...] about Books on Privacy and Surveillance
orwell
The Picnic is a Political Act
On June the 25th 2014, it will be the seventh continual year there has been a symposium (picnic) at George Orwell’s grave. It's also of course his birthday. Back in 2007 we sat on the grass sharing food and drink, experiences and stories. As we have done every year since. Asking questions, discussing threatened freedoms and eroded civil liberties... all things Orwellian. We once used the … [Read more...] about The Picnic is a Political Act
Are we finally living in 1984?
How do you feel about the world we are creating right now? What were your thoughts when the #PRISM news hit the headlines and Edward Snowden appeared in your browser saying these words?.. "If living unfreely but comfortably is something you’re willing to accept, and I think many of us are, it’s the human nature, you can get up every day, you can go to work, you can collect your large paycheck … [Read more...] about Are we finally living in 1984?
1984 Looks Like This
On the 2nd of May this year I took a walk from Manchester into Salford with Dr John Perivolaris. (Here is a conversation we had on the way.) listen to ‘Walking into Salford’ on Audioboo We were heading to see David Dunnico's Exhibition entitled '1984 Looks Like This' currently showing at Salford Museum and Art Gallery until the 1st of July. I first met Manchester based David Dunnico at a … [Read more...] about 1984 Looks Like This
Social Media Picnic 2010
If you read the recent article in the Guardian regarding location based apps and privacy, you may have been reminded that on the 25th of June each year a small get together pops up at George Orwell's final resting place to talk about civil liberties and privacy concerns in the UK. In essence it's a picnic (bring a packed lunch) but there is always the local pub should it rain. There is … [Read more...] about Social Media Picnic 2010