Irish Examiner view: Big Brother is alive and well

Surveillance plan was considered during Covid

During the pandemic, a surveillance system was considered by government to use information from CCTV, credit card transactions and mobile phone data to ensure people followed social distancing rules.

We have highlighted the manner in which the history of decisions made during the management of the pandemic were leaking piecemeal into the public arena. We warned that unless a more formal review takes place, support for future restrictions, should they be needed, will be diminished.

In the same book that has provided a number of insights, Pandemonium: Power, Politics and Ireland’s Pandemic by Jack Horgan-Jones of the Irish Times and Hugh O’Connell of the Irish Independent, there is a reference that should make every citizen sit up and bang their fists on the table in anger.