GOT ISSUES 9 For laid back lifestylers... with a sense of humour 2019 The original Big Brother was a fictional character from George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. A symbol of a one-party state in which the rulers wield total power over the people, “for its own sake”. In the social order described by Orwell, everyone is under constant surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens (sounds familiar), and people are continuously reminded by giant posters that “Big Brother is watching you”. The term ‘Big Brother’ is so integral to our modern-day trends encroach upon our personal privacy? Is society And did you know that in 2011 Microsoft patented lexicon that it seems to have lost its sting. We might moving ever closer to an Orwellian state? a product distribution system with a camera or not see posters but there are cameras EVERYWHERE. capture device that monitors the viewers that Big Brother is no longer a synonym for the abuse of While it’s hard to get the facts, every week public outrage consume the product, allowing the provider to take government power (the Brexit debacle has stolen is raised over new abuse. Remember the social media “remedial action” if the actual viewers do not match the march on that debate), especially regarding scandal of 2017, where Brexit votes were massaged via the distribution license? Even your own laptop is civil liberties connected to mass surveillance. But political advertising? And no one knew it was happening. watching you. the question remains: are we being watched? (YES) The manipulation wasn’t uncovered until 2018 and Who’s watching or listening? And what are ‘they’ showed extraordinary liberties taken by Cambridge What’s more, our mobile devices are always “awake,” doing with all that information? Do we even care if Analytica: Facebook revealed that they could have passively listening for the appropriate command to millennial technologies and increasing social media harvested the personal data of 87 million people. activate, such as “Alexa,” or “Hey Siri,” or “O.K. Continues on page 2 Single-eState gift S S traight from the farmer | cha S ediS tillery.co.uk 2 2019 2019 3 Google”. The problem is they’re far from perfect about cameras (51,000 according to something called only responding when prompted by a wake-word. In Big Brother Watch) are placed across the city on theory, the devices don’t record or transmit anything lampposts, buildings, and train stations to help 60 Seconds you say until the wake-word is uttered but you only reduce crime rates. According to a civil rights have to look online to see the degree of complaints group called Liberty, on average a Londoner Christmas about the nefarious possibilities. Alexa-powered is captured on camera about 300 times a day. with our speakers apparently startled users earlier this year, when BBW activists have been advocating for the a number of devices reportedly burst into “creepy” government to implement some effective ON AVERAGE A spontaneous laughter. Many believe that all this guidelines for a new code of conduct for CCTV friends... voice tech is akin to bugging your own home. A valid users. Some believe it is unethical to spy on LONDONER concern, given that these companies live-or-die from someone’s private life and even claim that Pressies Angela Hartnett the data collected about us, so why not gather more some agencies are using these cameras for their IS CAPTURED ON Think outside the box this year for some unusual gifts… data? And how many of us have noticed the seemingly private interest. City surveillance remains a telepathic appearance of search-related advertisements complicated, controversial topic. CAMERA ABOUT on our phones, tablets and PCs… If George Orwell so accurately imagined the Then there’s the all too familiar airport security reality of today’s nanny-state back in 1949, obstacle race, which given recent terror attacks, is the real question is, what does the future hold: 3�� a sad necessity for safety. Or is it a world-gone-mad? artificial brain transplants, digi-medics, TIMES A DAY It’s certainly open to abuse – I recently witnessed a surrogate robotic mothers and what about friend being approached by the Customs Security AI Presidents and Prime Ministers? Right team to smuggle in some medicines from Tbilisi to now, some would argue, that might not the UK. I like to think it was a purely innocent act be a bad thing. from a concerned relative, but it left me in a game of consequences. The quandary of it all. What did I do? I covertly filmed it on my iPhone (and whether rightly or wrongly, the proffered medicines were left FOR GIFTING in Georgia). It felt both puerile and precautious. And FOR THE HOME BIRD FOR THE MIDDLE-AGED BROWNIE POINTS curiously Big Brotherly. THOUSANDS OF CCTV CAMERAS Home is where the Heart is, so why MAN IN LYRCA With a cult following, Le Labo is known not put a place you love at the heart Stolen Goat jerseys are designed to for its dedication to creating unisex According to worldatlas.com, London is the most of a jigsaw map? Map Marketing make inspire and empower every bike ride scents for men and women that have spied-on city in the world. Thousands of CCTV 5�,��� unique map jigsaws with a distinctive and have been known to help the evocation of emotion at their heart. house-shaped centre piece based on improve performance. 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Contained within the 25 drawers be tongue-tied to find yourself brilliance of The Pogues’ number Things or love the drama of The sitting next to at a dinner? are skincare, make-up, haircare, bath, Crown, A Netflix gift card is the one record – Fairytale of New York. Larry David, writer of Seinfeld and body and wellness treats. ultimate present for film and TV lovers A Merino wool crew neck jumper Curb your Enthusiasm. embroidered with ‘Fairytale of New www.fortnumandmason.com this year. The gift card allows you to York’ and a star with ‘KM’ embroidered purchase the membership for your on the sleeve is perfect for the fashion- nearest and dearest. What’s your favourite lazy-at- forward Christmas jumper fan. www.netflix.com home dish to cook? Spaghetti hoops on white toast with www.bellafreud.com cheddar cheese on top. What’s your top tip for Christmas entertaining? Keep it simple, less is more. Your book at bedtime? Any Ian Rankin novel. 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Their pottery classes are a wonderful food and drink producers including Cornish Sea Salt, its tar barrels, an old custom said to have originated opportunity to spend a few hours indulging in some Flapjackery, Cornish Cheese Co, Kernow Sausage Co, in the 17th century. Join the tradition on November meditative creativity, immersing yourself in the world Cornish Rock Gin and St Austell Brewery, to name 5th and celebrate Bonfire Night in 17th century style.