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Microsoft takes over Belgium

Discussion in 'General Discussion Forum' started by Jebus, Feb 1, 2005.

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  1. Jebus

    Jebus Background Radiant
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    9,072
    Jan 29, 2004
    Here's an old newsbit of how Belgium was planning to introduce electronic ID cards.

    Now, those plans haven't been shelved yet. On the contrary, the digital ID cards will most likely be issued this year or the next.

    Now, I don't have anything against digital ID cards an sich (on the contrary, it will make a whole lot of things a lot easier); but what does worry me, is that today the Belgian government announced that Microsoft will be making the software for this endeavor.

    Somehow, the thought of an evil corporation making my ID card worries me. It gives them an immense amount of power, let alone the fact that they could use their software to find out everything about me: from criminal and health records to bank statements, my tax forms, ...

    People always said Bill Gates had enough money and power to take over a small country, and well - I think he just did.
     
    Jebus, Feb 1, 2005
    #1
  2. phoon

    phoon First time out of the vault

    26
    Jan 25, 2005
    Heh, I knew about the digital ID's, but I didn't know microsoft was trying to take over our country :)

    I think we'll hear about some errors in the near future. Remember their faulty police computers?

    Luckily for me, my old (non-digital) ID is still valid for some 8 years...


    edit: By the way, those digital ID's are already off the shelves, since my brother already received one two weeks ago.
     
    phoon, Feb 1, 2005
    #2
  3. Jebus

    Jebus Background Radiant
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    Jan 29, 2004
    It freaks me out, really :/

    I'd flee and ask for political asylum in The Netherlands, but I'm afraid of what do to immigrants there...
     
    Jebus, Feb 1, 2005
    #3
  4. Murdoch

    Murdoch Half-way Through My Half-life
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    3,086
    Nov 24, 2003
    Better they get the bugs worked out on you than me Jebus!

    But seriously, I am amenable to the idea of a single ID card (multipass, anyone? :look: ) if it simplifies my life by having everything accessible on one piece of plastic. God knows I hate carrying around all my ID cards for school, driving, auto insurance, health insurance etc.

    I wonder if technology is ready for it yet though. Until you could use some sort of quantum encryption on the data and make the card only useful to the owner via biometrics the prospect for misuse and fraud s rampant. Plus strong international protections must be in place to prevent abuse as well.

    And I believe 'an sich' translates to 'as such', my Belgish friend?
     
    Murdoch, Feb 1, 2005
    #4
  5. Brother None

    Brother None This ghoul has seen it all
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    37,077
    Apr 3, 2003
    Immigrants? We don't want no stinking immigrants! Everything bad in Holland right now is not the fault of liberalisation run wild, but of immigrants, y'see
     
    Brother None, Feb 1, 2005
    #5
  6. phoon

    phoon First time out of the vault

    26
    Jan 25, 2005
    Just adopt the accent and keep a low profile.

    Not that it would matter, since most other EU countries will also introduce digital ID's.
     
    phoon, Feb 1, 2005
    #6
  7. Ratty Sr.

    Ratty Sr. Ratty, except old Moderator Orderite

    11,247
    Apr 23, 2003
    Jebus, I would be more worried about bugs than some evil Microsoft conspiracy (though the latter shouldn't be entirely dismissed, either...). It's a disturbing thought that you might officially cease to exist due to a software failure. Or that some pseudohacker might steal your identity because Microsoft implemented a security bug.

    Yep, I would flee the country if I were you.
     
    Ratty Sr., Feb 1, 2005
    #7
  8. Jebus

    Jebus Background Radiant
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    Jan 29, 2004
    I dunno. It's a German expression, like überhaupt is.

    True... Yet perhaps I could flee to a country with more limited technological capabilties, where computers still are a thing of teh future!!!1.... Poland, perhaps?

    Ah yes. Microsoft and their bugs and security holes... That never even came to mind. Gawd, I'd never see the end of it... Microsoft can't even make a safe internet browser that doesn't crash every fifteen minutes, let alone I'd want them to make software that -most literally- controles my life...

    Although 'to cease existing' doesn't sound so bad...
    Then maybe I could become a hitman for some shady organisation and kill everyone that gets in my way with impunity!
     
    Jebus, Feb 1, 2005
    #8
  9. Ratty Sr.

    Ratty Sr. Ratty, except old Moderator Orderite

    11,247
    Apr 23, 2003
    More likely you would get detained by the first cop that comes around and deported to Morocco.
     
    Ratty Sr., Feb 1, 2005
    #9
  10. Silencer

    Silencer Night Watchman Staff Member Admin

    13,203
    Nov 7, 2003
    That's a splendid idea! You could share the room with Wooz and every weekend we'd go to Kampinos Woods and hunt dinosaurs! Life would be simple and graceful.

    And don't worry - we're not going to have electronic ID's in 100 years, because we've got more important things to deal with - like persecuting Communist agents from the 50's! (Well, unless damn Brussels MAKES us introduce them... But that's a different pair of shoes.)
     
    Silencer, Feb 1, 2005
    #10
  11. Briosafreak

    Briosafreak Lived Through the Heat Death

    8,305
    Dec 18, 2003
    Yeah it might work


    RUN MAN RUN get out of there now!!!!
     
    Briosafreak, Feb 1, 2005
    #11
  12. Jebus

    Jebus Background Radiant
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    9,072
    Jan 29, 2004
    Hey, I'd be fleeing to Poland to avoid being fucked up the ass, you know.
     
    Jebus, Feb 1, 2005
    #12
  13. Silencer

    Silencer Night Watchman Staff Member Admin

    13,203
    Nov 7, 2003
    Duh. I'd lend you my stone axe to help you defend yourself.
     
    Silencer, Feb 1, 2005
    #13
  14. Wooz

    Wooz Vault Sweeper Admin Orderite Board Cop oTO

    13,611
    May 18, 2003
    Shh! Don't be sharing our Hi-Tec Secrets with non-tribesmen!
     
    Wooz, Feb 1, 2005
    #14
  15. Voluptuous Pachyderm

    Voluptuous Pachyderm First time out of the vault

    40
    Aug 22, 2004
    anyone know how trust worthy theregister.co.uk is?
     
    Voluptuous Pachyderm, Feb 1, 2005
    #15
  16. Briosafreak

    Briosafreak Lived Through the Heat Death

    8,305
    Dec 18, 2003
    OMG it`s even worse than i thought:

    Go to the Vault now Jebus :shock:
     
    Briosafreak, Feb 1, 2005
    #16
  17. Ratty Sr.

    Ratty Sr. Ratty, except old Moderator Orderite

    11,247
    Apr 23, 2003
    See? This is why it's high time everybody started learning .NET. Maybe you can't do much with it now, but tomorrow that knowledge will allow you to steal people's lives! Muahahaha!
     
    Ratty Sr., Feb 1, 2005
    #17
  18. John Uskglass

    John Uskglass Venerable Relic of the Wastes

    4,512
    Aug 29, 2003
    So, has Microsoft started giving it's employes those spiffy helmets with the XII on them?
     
    John Uskglass, Feb 2, 2005
    #18
  19. Ratty Sr.

    Ratty Sr. Ratty, except old Moderator Orderite

    11,247
    Apr 23, 2003
    No, I hear nerdy Deus Ex fans stole the entire batch. I hope you like yours, by the way.
     
    Ratty Sr., Feb 2, 2005
    #19
  20. John Uskglass

    John Uskglass Venerable Relic of the Wastes

    4,512
    Aug 29, 2003
    That, ladies and gentlemen, is why Croatia will be the one nation on earth not affected by the upcoming Age of Illumination.
     
    John Uskglass, Feb 2, 2005
    #20
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