Big Brother Is Scanning Your Computer For Porn

One of the world’s most powerful supercomputers might be scanning your PC next year.

The Jaguar is going pedophile hunting. It will use a program called Artemis to find flesh coloured pixels on computers, identifying images that might be child pornography.

“Across the globe criminals are using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children,” said Grier Weeks, executive director of the National Association to Protect Children.

“Police are overwhelmed and outnumbered. These… scientists are the good guys we’ve been waiting for. Their computers will become child rescue engines.”

While this program will definitely help find child predators, it seems to me like it would actually identify any images of any people that you might have on your computer. Is this invasion of privacy worth it? Do you really want the government sorting through your pictures to determine whether your picture of your high school lover, or a downloaded picture of a consenting adult, is appropriate for you to look at?

If this search tool is only used with a legal warrant then I’m all for it, but just because my computer is hooked up to the internet doesn’t meant it is open for anyone to nose around in. My files are not an open book, they a locked diary — and if you want to have a look all you need to do is ask.

Contact the author here: mick@morningquickie.com