See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: (Trash can police) Germans plant bugs in our wheelie bins
Source:
The Mail
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li ... icle_id=402439&in_page_id=1770
Published: Feb 26, 2007
Author: MARTIN DELGADO and HANNAH CLEAVER
Post Date: 2007-02-26 13:59:41 by Jethro Tull
Keywords: None
Views: 97
Comments: 2
MORE HERE It looks just like any other wheelie bin, but unknown to the householder a bugging device has been inserted under the lip of its lid (bottom left). The bug itself is only a little bigger than a 1p piece (bottom right) Electronic spy 'bugs' have been secretly planted in hundreds of thousands of household wheelie bins. The gadgets - mostly installed by companies based in Germany - transmit information about the contents of the bins to a central database which then keeps records on the waste disposal habits of each individual address. Already some 500,000 bins in council districts across England have been fitted with the bugs - with nearly all areas expected to follow suit within the next couple of years. Until now, the majority of bins have been altered without the knowledge of their owners. In many cases, councils which ordered the installation of the devices did not even debate the proposals publicly. The official reason for the bugs is to 'improve efficiency' and settle disputes between neighbours over wheelie-bin ownership. But experts say the technology is actually intended to enable councils to impose fines on householders who exceed limits on the amount of non-recyclable waste they put out. New powers for councils to do this are expected to be introduced by the Government shortly. -Snip
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
Until now, the majority of bins have been altered without the knowledge of their owners. In many cases, councils which ordered the installation of the devices did not even debate the proposals publicly. The official reason for the bugs is to 'improve efficiency' and settle disputes between neighbours over wheelie-bin ownership. But experts say the technology is actually intended to enable councils to impose fines on householders who exceed limits on the amount of non-recyclable waste they put out. New powers for councils to do this are expected to be introduced by the Government shortly. Our parents shed blood sweat and tears for this kind of Europe???????????? I can hear the sound of spinning graves.
There are no replies to Comment # 1. End Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThe gadgets - mostly installed by companies based in Germany - transmit information about the contents of the bins to a central database which then keeps records on the waste disposal habits of each individual address. Already some 500,000 bins in council districts across England have been fitted with the bugs - with nearly all areas expected to follow suit within the next couple of years.
Replies to Comment # 1.