Who's got my data?

Who's got my data?

The latest hobby is Collecting Data. Collecting data on people is big business. Psychologists measure people all over the world. Facebook,besides collecting demographic  information was in business to collect much harder psychographic  data on individuals  worldwide.

Everyday billions, some say 2.13 billion of Facebook members give it huge amounts of information,about their lives and their dreams. With every swipe we leave a footprint on Facebook. Data is so light we don't notice it until it's gone. When it's gone, we find it difficult to erase it, delete it or sometimes even impossible to retrieve it. 

The Wi-fi in Starbucks, the Amazon Echo by your bed and the Sainsbury Nectar Card you use for your daily shopping all quietly squirrel away data, quite legally under the guise of the terms and conditions you sign to use their services. 

According to researchers,the average person generates 600MB of data every day,about the equivalent of streaming a one hour You Tube video,in high definition.

In the case of Facebook it targeted people with personalised political messages to influence their voting behaviour. Facebook harvested, in fact minted data. It built models to "target their hopes and fears." 

Analysts predict your personality and ideologies, your fears and fancies by asking simple questions. They go shopping for impressionable users, what kind of political messaging users were susceptible to, how to frame their messages, the tone and content that would motivate their users. The way was to easily get their users to part with their innermost personality secrets with others. The basis was it was being shared among friends and family. But instead, it was shared with political parties, with business advertisers and perhaps, with Big Brother. In this way, they were able to compile a shopping list of traits that could be predicted about the actions of voters, of shoppers, of neighbours,of people with religious, social and cultural persuasions. There was a eager market for such information which could not be gathered or found elsewhere. 

Facebook and similar social media like Twitter, used the relationship with family and friends,as well as with others who were self monitoring,by changing disclosure depending with whom they communicate, to ascertain behaviour patterns, for monetary profit, for political gain, and sometimes for blackmail. This was done covertly knowingly putting users at risk.

Social adjustment and responsibility 

Politics flows from culture and traditions. You had to change people to change culture. Psychograpic and psychotropic  profiling of individuals was necessary to change societal behaviour. A clear case is the offer of new guidance to dispel myths around fostering and adopting which was launched in Yorkshire in a bid to boost the number of Muslims helping children in care. 

The problem of Pakistani third generation young migrants in Yorkshire  grooming, cavorting and raping white local girls has been an eyesore on society which needed correction. Every way of sending a message to these hot blooded youth through the local community    organisations,"madrasses" and mosques, proved inadequate. A new and innovative way of communicating a thorny issue had to be found. The social media was used for this social adjustment mechanism. We now await its outcome.

The first Islamic "Guidance Document on Adoption and Fostering" was aimed at a resolution of this problem. It aimed at getting these unscrupulous, uncaring and irresponsible young migrant youth to take responsibility for their action by making girls pregnant and producing unwanted children, who had to be cared for in Child Care Centres,a drain on society. 

The Penny Appeal, which carried out the research alongside religious and Muslim community leaders in Yorkshire to put the guidance together, estimated that there are more than 4000 Muslim children in Care. It was stated that the number of foster and adoptive parents of the Islamic faith coming forward "by far" did not meet the amount of children requiring care. 

Common concerns from Muslims included how adoption may jeopardise a central Islamic belief that the lineage of a family must be preserved, and the fact that fostered or adopted children are not included automatically in Islamic laws of inheritance.

A common sense approach was necessary in these circumstances and as it was a communal obligation,meaning that actually if the Pakistani Muslims in Yorkshire did not take action to plug this gap, collectively as a community, the whole Muslim community would become actually blameworthy. The guidance, funded by a £200,000 grant from the Department of Education,endorsed by 100 leading UK Imams, community leaders and social care professionals,was launched on Social Media, aimed at addressing and counteracting a belief 

held by some within the faith and within families,that adoption is forbidden in Islam. 

Fake news and willingness to disseminate misinformation 

Unlike the above understanding arrived by consent, fake news and willingness to disseminate misinformation is spreading everywhere. There are two fundamental human drivers - hopes and fears. Many of them mostly unspoken or even unconscious. It is the spread of  this data which is worrying ever since the Facebook episode.The lack of sufficient legislation to set standards needed to enforce what companies can and cannot do, exposes the public at large to the dangers of fake information.

Governments are waking up to the reality that the destabilisation of democracies is a much more serious issue which needs to be addressed. Culture Secretary, Matt Hancock said the public want action. "The days of an unregulated Wild west are over. This is the moment for government to broker a new settlement between tech companies,societies and the state, to put more power and control back in the hands of the people who use social media." Laws on the use of the internet would be soon introduced."It is not for companies to decide on the delicate balance between privacy and innovation, but for society as a whole."

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the worldwide web,called the Cambridge Analytica furore a "serious moment for the web's future". He called on people to"build a web that reflects our hopes & fulfils our dreams more than it magnifies our fears & deepens our divisions".
                                                                    

A highly complex ecosystem   

The ad -supported internet has created a highly complex ecosystem made up of thousands of companies which overtly and covertly track and profile people's every move. Cambridge Analytica is just one firm that exploits this system for political campaigning, but others extend into issues such as credit scoring, hiring processes,policing and insurance. 

The nature of corporate surveillance must sooner rather than later be made accountable to the public. 

Victor Cherubim

New Ways to Spend, Save and Borrow

New Ways to Spend,Save and Borrow?

New technologies are transforming the way we spend,save and borrow. We cannot always predict the social and cultural consequences that might arise from these technological changes. 

The way people use their money is also changing.From contactless payments to moving money around online, to using mobile phones to make payments,new digital technologies are being developed all over the world. Some of these can have unexpected social consequences.Others can transform lives by opening up access to finance for people who were previously outside the banking sector.

The ethics of borrowing and lending money is still questioned. With credit so easy to get,why would anyone want to save money and buy with cash. You pull out the plastic and pay it back with payments over who knows for how long,that is if you can afford this transaction.But even when borrowing is cheap,perhaps, not easy, it becomes good management to become financially independent.Financial independence is not the same as being rich, but having savings is what it takes to becoming rich.If you want to have a good,relatively stress free financial life, you need to save for annual expenses.But, it can be dangerous to put expenses on credit without paying them off.Saving for them in advance is peace of mind,as well as money saving.

Card Fraud

Among the perils of card transactions is Card Fraud. Methods of credit card fraud include when card details are used to make purchases that don't require physical presence,such as online,through the post or over the telephone or using a lost or stolen card to make a purchase or to withdraw cash.  There are many precautions, but one that has come to light recently is the disposable virtual card in a effort to combat online card fraud. "Revolut" customers have (among other things been able to take currency abroad without incurring charges) are now also able whenever they pay for goods or services online to create a new disposable virtual card within seconds. The account stays the same,so the money is coming out of the same place,but the card details you input will automatically scramble into a new combination after every transaction, preventing anybody from cloning and reusing your card.It also has the ability to freeze and unfreeze physical cards and disabling contactless payments. 

Being organised

Being organised is by no means going to make you happy,all by itself, but it surely can help. There is so much you have no control over your future,so putting aside some savings to spend later when you need it,makes sense.

There are a variety of payment options available. Payment by cash, payment by EFTPOS, payment online,payment by cheque,payment by credit,payment by lay-by, gift cards.

Payment methods

The latest attraction is payment for a holiday by paying a minimum deposit of £50.00 and paying the balance before the holiday date in equal instalments. It is also called lay-by, which is paying off an item over a certain period of time. The shop will store or keep the item until it is paid off.

There is the Go/Henry Debit card, a family banking tool designed for young people. It is a prepaid Pocket Money Card and App. It is an online account for you and a linked account for each of your children.They are all managed through mobile and web application. Each child gets their Go/Henry, or Go/George Prepaid Debit Card,with parental control. Only the money on the card can be spent.There is no danger of debt or overdraft.Your children learn about money by seeing how earning,saving and spending works for them. It is controlled by rules and limits you set,accessed by a security pin number, easily blocked and unblocked by you or your child, without a phone call.

In some states in South and West Australia,there is a scheme that controls how social security payments can be spent. Under the plan 20% of benefits are paid in cash and the rest is locked into a "indue Card" - a debit card that could not be used to buy alcohol,drugs or gamble.

Pain free saving
Apartment Therapy came up with a pain free saving plan which sees participants put aside a small sum each day. The concept is that every Sunday you put aside £1,followed by £2 on Monday,£3 on Tuesday, £4 on Wednesday and so on. On Saturday you would put £7 and the process repeats and you will put aside £1 on Sunday as the new week begins. The last daily amount £7 is around the cost of two coffees,so it is not too overwhelming to factor into the budget. If you stick to the daily savings routine you will have put aside £28 a week,which works out as £1456 by the end of the year. It is up to you whether you throw coins in a jar everyday to use up small change or transfer the cash into a Savings Account each week. 

The ethics of borrowing and lending

Questions about the ethics of money lending date back to the beginning of the recorded human history.Money lenders have always been accused of exploiting the poor by charging too much interest for loans.

"Neither a borrower or a lender be"Polonius advises in Hamlet, for loan often loses both itself and friend, said Shakespeare.

The Archbishop of Canterbury,has recently declared war on "pay day loan" providers. But how do other faiths view this issue.

With the rise of Islamic finance, Sharia law is typically interpreted to include a ban on charging interest or "riba". The rent or utility charge you pay in order to live in the house, is the same as interest in a "riba" based loan. HSBC Amanah, Banksilami and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank among others issued their credit cards which is based on Sharia contract. It is offered to Muslims and non Muslims.It is completely free of any "riba" or "gharar," which means no extra amount may be charged in transactions dealing with silver,gold or money.

The Future of Money

Bitcoin or digital blockchain is not the future of money. Bitcoin may resemble physical cash But where physical cash is the liability of a Central Bank or government controlling its value,Bitcoin is the liability of nobody.

Cash will and should perhaps,dwindle as a store of value.

The future belongs not to plastic cards but the way it goes, it may be mobile phone apps.

Victor Cherubim

International Women's Day

International Woman's Day

During the year 2018 which marks 100 years since women got the vote in the UK, March 8 International Women's Day has become more empowering than ever.

As we think of a woman who has made a positive impact on our life,we have every reason to celebrate them in the best way,in fact anyway we can.Whether it was our Mother,Grandma,Sister,or Wife, whoever they are, we are grateful to them every day. They changed our lives, they deserve recognition. 

The BBC 100 Women programme will showcase inspirational stories from women in the UK and across the globe.

The #Me Too Movement against male harassment too has recently come into the limelight in the United States and abroad.

Women are to be celebrated for being themselves, for being female.

Many women over the years have made a stand.They have stood out among the rest.They are still marching,they are challenging abuse,they are fighting gender inequality.

What is happening in UK?

Domestic abuse has been highlighted by Prime Minister,Theresa May writing in "The Guardian". She states:"Thousands of women endure unimaginable violence and other forms of abuse every single day,often at the hands of those to whom they are closest,in the places they should be safest.I have heard many heart wrenching stories. I am determined to stop others suffering."

Labour's Shadow Home Secretary,Diane Abbott said:"Domestic violence is one of the toughest crimes to police effectively and it is much more difficult because of the Tories cutting 21,000 police and support for women's refugees. There is more the Government could and should do."

As an early intervention measure to shield victims from further abuse from unconvicted suspects,the Government has launched today,new orders in a "freestanding application" from a victim,or a member of their family or a support service,without the need for police backing. This is ahead of a new draft Domestic Abuse legislation.

Domestic abuse suspects face being banned from contacting their victims,drinking alcohol or taking drugs. They face electronic tagging to monitor their movements under a new Civil Protection Order. 

For the first time there will be a statutory definition of Domestic Abuse.

The definition of "Domestic Abuse"
                                                    

Domestic violence and abuse would cover "psychological,physical,sexual,economic and emotional abuse". It would "not be limited to women and girls,but recognise abuse that happens in all relationships". 

Breaches of any of the conditions of the new Domestic Abuse Protection Civil Orders will be punishable as a criminal offence.

For the first time it will recognise economic abuse. This would include "forcing someone to take out loans,withholding access to wages or bank accounts, food, clothing or transport.

Sexual harassment

International Women's day has also flagged sexual harassment. We have recently seen that the entertainment industry is shifting to this embarrassment.It is in the midst of a so called "monumental change reacting to the numerous allegations of sexual assault and abuse." 

Sexual harassment is a manifestation of power relations."Women are much more likely to be victims of sexual harassment precisely because they more often than men lack power,are in a vulnerable and insecure positions,lack self confidence or have been socialised to suffer in silence. 

The problem of sexual harassment relates to the roles which are attributed to men and women in social and economic life. 

Another reaction is to exploit the presence of women and make sexual favours, aid submissions to sexual behaviour conditions of employment.Sexual harassment creates a climate of intimidation and repression, "frequently being a victim, blaming herself and doubting her own self worth." This draws a distinction between sex discrimination and sexual harassment.

              
The consequent outcome

One outcome of sexual harassment and domestic violence is that women are preferring to stay single.

There are over 40 million women in India who are classed as "invisible,single, unmarried,divorced and widows." Many are beginning to defy convention by remaining single by choice,without depending on the grudging munificence of their families. Social stigma surrounding divorce still hangs heavy over women. Things are changing, but the process is glacial.

More people in the West than ever before prefer to be single too. More are staying single for life.There are 107 million unmarried Americans over 18  and more than half of them are female.

Contrary to the view expressed by Jon Birger's "Date-onomics," that there is a man shortage, women aren't staying single because there aren't enough men for them. They are staying single and unwed simply because they want to be. They don't want to get married at all. 

According to Pepper Schwartz, Professor of Sociology,University of Washington,"women had to marry,or were seen as damaged.It is different now.While most women still want marriage,they don't want it at just any price.They don't want it if it scuttles their dreams."

That is perhaps, or in part,due to marriage no longer being a must for women's social and financial standing. It possibly does not offer the security it once did. It is not that there aren't enough men, but there also aren't enough women to walk down the aisle.           
                                           

The reasons not to settle down right away are such as prioritising their career, or wanting to spend more time with friends. There is another reason,why young women might want to stay single - they have a mistrust of marriage. 

Studies indicate that many "mods"  and millennials, avoid marriage for fear of eventual divorce. Women are remaining unwed because life is full of outlets for success in career, creative pursuits, travel, family,friends and strangely sexual satisfaction. 

My body, my choice 

Soon there may be a dearth of pole dancers, support women, parade girls or forced chaperones.Will it be a way of men finding women and respecting them for being female and not dominate them as at present? Will this be the dawn of a new era of population control by choice?

Victor Cherubim

The Future Partnership with EU

The Future Partnership - Theresa May's Speech in London

The long awaited sixth of the senior Conservative Cabinet members' clarification on "The Road to Brexit" was delivered by Prime Minister,Theresa May on Friday 2 March,2018 at Mansion House, City of London, to a wide audience of journalists from Britain,EU, and ambassadors. 

The Prime Minister spelled out her aims for UK-EU Trade after Brexit following her earlier addresses at Lancaster House,London and Florence last year 2017 and the one delivered in February 2018 in  Berlin.

The main theme in all her addresses were "tacking back control of our money, our borders and our laws." 

Her Mansion House Address went further in response to the demand of Opposition Leader,Jeremy Corbyn and some Conservative rebels for the "UK to remain in the Customs Union with the EU after Brexit."

She said she wanted the broadest and deepest possible agreement covering more sections and cooperating more fully than "any Free Trade anywhere in the world today." 

In her clarification she went on to reveal comparisons of Trade deals of many nations with the EU ranging from Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, South Korea and recently Canada.With each of these nations there were variations applicable to the situations in these countries and adaptions made to suit the circumstances. She was hard pressed to state that there was no off the shelf solution.. She implied the same set of guidelines of understanding will guide the future of her negotiations with the EU. 

Theresa May's pitch to the EU was that she can be trusted to uphold the values of the EU project. She urged the EU to show more flexibility in talks on a future relationship after Brexit. She said "we all need to face up to some hard facts and neither of us can have exactly what we want. We need to strike a balance."

It was an ambitious appeal for a tailor made Free Trade deal that would include financial services and not an off the shelf trading arrangement. She said Britain would aim for associate membership of EU regulators covering chemicals, medicines and aerospace.

It was a different and more pragmatic Theresa May on this occasion as she jettisoned her earlier view that Britain could walk away from the talks as she appealed to the EU to work together to secure some of the more difficult problems, including over Northern Ireland, where there was some fear of a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland after Brexit.. She was adamant on keeping the border open as per the Good Friday Agreement.

The EU must now consider whether they want to put rigid doctrines ahead of the mutual interests of her people and those in the UK. 

EU observers state she is sincere, but European leaders fear she is weak. 

The choice for the people of UK and EU is whether the reality of Brexit matches up to what has been promised.

Victor Cherubim 

May's five tests for the future Brexit trade talks

First, the agreement we reach with the EU must respect the result of the referendum.It was a vote to take control of our borders,laws and money. And a vote for wider change,so that no community in Britain would ever be left behind again. But it was not a vote for a distant relationship with our neighbours.

Second, the new agreement we reach with the EU must endure. After Brexit both the UK and the EU want to forge ahead with building a better future for our people,not find ourselves back at the negotiating table because things have broken down.

Third, it must protect people's jobs and security. People in the UK voted for our country to have a new and different relationship with Europe, but while the means may change our shared goals surely have not - to work together to grow our economies and keep our people safe.

Fourth, it must be consistent with the kind of country we want to be as we leave: a modern,open, outward looking, tolerant, European democracy. A nation of pioneers,innovators,explorers and creators. A country that celebrates our history and diversity,confident of our place in the world; that meets its obligations to our near neighbours and far off friends, and is proud to stand up for its values.

And fifth, in doing all of these things,it must strengthen our union of nations and our union of people.

We must bring our country back together,taking into account the views of everyone who cares about this issue,from both sides of the debate. As prime minister it is my duty to represent all of our United Kingdom,England,Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; north and south, from coastal towns and rural villages to our great cities.