This week in the papers 7

THIS WEEK IN THE PAPERS 7

Do you know anything about Marius Milner? What about Luc Delany? You probably don’t know a thing about them – but there is a good chance they know something about you. Delany used to be Google’s European policy associate and Milner is a software designer from Hove in East Sussex. Still in the dark? Well, Milner has patented inventions for Google and one of these was the ‘Street View’ programme for Google designed to gather information via cars fitted with cameras and antennae.

The programme – used from 2008 to 2010, was designed to compile photographic evidence of almost every street and home. No big deal with that, I hear you say. One problem though – the software could also intercept communications, including e-mails, chat messages and photographs – something Delany stated hadn’t happened. It did happen though and Milner had informed his bosses and colleagues that this software could be used for this purpose and recommended that Google consulted with a ‘privacy lawyer’. America’s Federal Communications Commission possess detailed documents showing that the software was designed with this very purpose in mind. Milner has pleaded the 5^th. Amendment and  pressure is mounting worldwide for action to be taking against the corporation. Next time you use Google Maps or any of their other programmes – be aware that you are being watched!!

Google aren’t the only ones watching and listening. The recent arrests of some of Colin Duffy’s relatives – they are a very unlucky family – highlighted one avenue the PSNI use to gather information. They – the PSNI, admitted they had recorded the suspect’s conversations. And it was highlighted at the trial of John Paul Wooton that security forces had placed a tracking device in his car. Big Brother is alive and well.

An interesting book is being released this Friday. It’s called ‘Triggs’ and details the relationship between Roy Keane and his, now deceased,Labradordog. The book is written from the dog’s point of view and tells how theLabradortried to talk Keane out of going to the World Cup in 2002 – I’m not making this up! It was a very stressful time for the dog. Triggs heard about Keane’s retirement formIreland’s squad whilst he was staying at a boarding kennel inManchester– the stress was too much and he had to be taken to the vet.

I see the McCord/McDowell double act showed its face again this week. The two of them are getting a good wage out of hounding Loyalist paramilitaries – McDowell is good at raking up the past – I was going to ask him to investigate the story of the 2 wrestlers who were giving a bad beating with a shovel by an old ‘Pass-man’ and his brother – he’s probably too busy to investigate that – I wonder why!