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December 30, 2005

Eye of the Panopticon

By:

Some Orwellian things have been happening in Malaysia. While US citizens, journalists and even politicians are ripping the Bush administration to shreds, the rest of the world have quietly capitulated to anti-terror measures. If 9/11 is seen through an economic and military angle, the US seems to be getting the brunt of it. Elsewhere, there has been wheeling and dealing, and regional power-broking.

Here is one startling regional example: Strip-searches, Media Farces and Agitprops. An incident was faked here for a bigger game.

The US now has one trump card – oil. Game Theory can be used to turn the tables ingeniously. Whatever happens, there is a lot of uncertainty ahead. Is there a glimmer of hope?

While US citizens are exercising their rights, the Bush administration is under pressure from allies, for different reasons. With all the trouble going on, allies had found time for an Internet putsch during the recent WSIS Summit. There were strange bedfellows ganging up here.

US control of the Internet may be flawed but it provides an infosphere that strongly echoes the First Amendment. Half the world, which, rely on a free flow of information and freedom of speech, have done so under US control of root servers. Sure, abuses have occurred but think of an Internet under ITU control? For a reality check, how many nations actually apply UN Charters on fundamental rights?

But while the eye of the Panopticon gets bruised in the US, let’s check out the example of Malaysia. Here are a few examples:

1) Plans to fingerprint babies at birth, ostensibly for a noble cause ie. if children are lost, they can be reconciled to thankful parents. But this process comes with a software that flexes in a growing thumb. Perhaps this is to reconcile missing parents to thankful babies.

2) My new hi-tech identity card has details like a driving test I failed to take. Details can be updated whenever your identity is checked at a mobile police unit, hooked up wirelessly to HQ’s database. Since there wasn’t much debate on this matter, any self-respecting student of surveillance would know that citizens can be segregated according to levels of “threat.”

3 Plans to introduce nationwide psychiatric tests for workers, ostensibly to detect stress. Any normal worker would know “stress” and would seek a doctor when that happens. Board members and executives need not take it.

4) A recent transaction may see details of Malaysian patients in Singaporean hands. This is the fun part as it involves high profile Malaysians. So, the government is worried about this one.

Hoping for some glimmer in the New Year ahead. But I doubt it.

Still, Happy New Year everyone.

Mathew Maavak
Kuala Lumpur
Dec 30

Posted by Mathew at December 30, 2005 3:48 AM Category: Authors --- Mathew