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UK Census 2011: Why I Will Be Breaking The Law on March 27, 2011

Keith | 28.02.2011 16:14 | 2011 Census Resistance | Anti-militarism | Repression | Terror War | Birmingham | South Coast

On Sunday March 27, 2011 I will be breaking the law.

If you live in the England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland then I would also like you to break the law. We can do it together, and I know for a fact that an awful lot of people will be doing the same.



The UK Census 2011 is being held on March 27, and everyone is expected to have their details recorded and sent back to the government for processing. Except it won’t, because it is not the job of the government to do the processing – and that is the key to why I will be breaking the law.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the Census data will be recorded and processed by one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world. In Scotland the Census data will be recorded and processed by a company wholly owned by a military services contractor. The following extract from the 2011 Census Security Report puts the two contractors in context:

"The review team are aware that this has been a matter of public interest and note that the use of UK and EU subcontractors places Lockheed-Martin UK at arm’s length from the data gathered in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. Once the data capture infrastructure has been completed. there will be a ‘scrubbing’ stage in which all routes of access for Lockheed-Martin UK employees will be removed and the Census Ofices will formally assume control, with Steria, an EU company, undertaking the necessary data management and administrative functions. There have been public assurances that the contractual arrangements have been structured to ensure that only sub-contractors registered and based in the UK, and either UK or EU owned, will have access to personal census data. No Lockheed-Martin staff (from either the US parent or UK company) will have access to any personal census data. The approach adopted by GROS [General Register Office for Scotland] has been similar, and GROS will play a major role in controlling access to the infrastructure used for processing data supplied in the 2011 Census. It is a condition of the contract with CACI (UK) that personal census information will not leave the UK. GROS have confirmed that CACI (UK)’s sub-contractors with access to 2011 Census data have no US links and that the Act, therefore, does not apply to them. GROS have also given public assurances on contractor confidentiality in this area."

It is important to note that under Patriot Act rules, any data processed by a US company for any reason can legally (under US law) be utilised for the purposes of National Security. In the case of the UK Census it is of great interest to National Security who has whatever name, living in whatever place, having whatever religious beliefs, holding whatever passport and having whatever country of origin (and maybe staying in whatever country for more than 30 days a year). This information is being collected, and there is nothing any foreign government can do to legally stop the US government and its agencies from using that data if the data gets into the US-based processing facilities of either Lockheed-Martin or CACI International Inc.

This fact has been recognised by the Office of National Statistics, revealed in a startling passage:

"Concerns expressed about the possibility of the US Patriot Act being used by US intelligence services have been addressed by a number of additional contractual and operational safeguards. These arrangements have been put in place to ensure to that US authorities are unable to access census data."

The ONS know they have no legal powers to prevent the access to data, so they are merely going to try and do their best to make sure it can’t happen. Yeah, right!

And that isn’t even the major issue. As mentioned above, both of the companies involved in gathering and carrying out the initial data processing are involved in providing arms (in one case) and services (in both cases) to military operations.

The Office of National Statistics has awarded the England, Wales and Northern Ireland contract to Lockheed Martin, one of the largest arms companies in the world. From their own website:

"While a pilot engaging an enemy in armed conflict is a defining moment, air power is more than just aircraft. Air power includes actual aircraft, training, focused logistics, munitions, and even targeting and navigation systems – all the interconnected pieces necessary to complete their missions successfully. Lockheed Martin is a global leader in the design, manufacture and support of military aircraft."

"Lockheed Martin provides high altitude airborne reconnaissance that includes state of the art imagery sensors that collect intelligence in all weather and light conditions. This enables the warfighter to download and transmit data in real time via satellite to multiple ground stations and other manned and unmanned aircraft around the world."

The General Register Office for Scotland has awarded the Scotland contract to CACI (UK) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CACI International Inc. From their own website:

"In support of DISA CACI also provides global net-centric solutions to our nation’s warfighters under all conditions of peace and war. CACI is the predominant IT services provider supporting a highly sensitive DISA agency that designs, operates and maintains presidential communication systems. CACI integrated computer network security solutions that formed a network which the National Security Agency (NSA) evaluated as one of the most secure government IT networks in the U.S."

"Missile Defense Agency (MDA) – As the market leader in contracting and acquisition support, CACI has supported the MDA since 1993 by providing complex contracting and acquisition services. CACI’s expertise has been pivotal in evolving and transforming MDA’s mission over many years. CACI’s services are essential to awarding multiple billion dollar missile defense systems and associated services contracts. This cornerstone program has led CACI to become the premier contracting and acquisition support contractor and for the entire DoD and federal civilian marketplace."

Having companies like this deal with public census data is rather like having Monsanto carry out your gardening. They might be able to do the job, but do you really trust them to do the right thing; and do you really feel comfortable paying them to do the job given what they routinely do to the natural ecosystems of the world?

So that is why I will be breaking the law on Sunday March 27, 2011. And that’s why I will be explaining to the census-taker when they come to my door to collect the form that, for both data security and ethical reasons I wish to have no part in the Census. I will not be filling it in.

I know for a fact that I won’t be going to jail, despite what some media sources have been claiming, and I probably won’t even get a fine; but if push comes to shove, here are some other things I might be trying to avoid giving any satisfaction to the peddlers of blood gathering the data:

1) Spoiling the Census form by making it illegible;

2) Filling in vague data that provides no useful information, but is not false in any way;

3) Filibusting on the doorstep, so that the census-taker runs out of time;

4) Claiming the rights of a Conscientious Objector given the business of the business of the companies involved (particulaly useful if this ever goes to court).

I don’t think I will be the only person doing this…

(reprinted from  http://thesietch.org/mysietch/keith/2011/02/28/uk-census-2011-why-i-will-be-breaking-the-law-on-march-27-2011/)

Keith
- Homepage: http://www.unsuitablog.org

Comments

Hide the following 16 comments

Just one thing...

28.02.2011 16:47

I agree that outsourcing the census to an company that is also an arms manufacturer (and wasting loads of public money to do it) is really stupid and terrible, but you do realise that they get paid before the census. Whether you fill it out or not they'll still get the money. Fair enough if you do want to do this though, just its not going to effect the arms company like lots of people seem to think.

Technical point


legal repercussions

28.02.2011 16:55

at the last census, a total of 23 people were prosecuted with one finally being jailed for non-payment of fines.

with 60 million-ish people on census forms, i reckon that makes the odds pretty safe.

i won't be answering the door.

i think the law's the same as with election stuff. it's not strictly illegal not to return the form, but only to 'refuse' to return it.

so there are all sorts of ways not to comply short of actually refusing.

census evader


Payment

28.02.2011 17:22

I'm not sure they will be paid completely - in my experience contractors only receive the significant balance once they have executed their role to the satisfaction of the client. There are bound to be penalty clauses involved. In any case, even if it's the ONS or GROS that suffer from any refusals it might put them off doing the same in future, and open up negotiations to a lot more public scrutiny.

Not that governments are any better; they are generally just fronts for the arms companies anyway.

Keith


Better to give false information?

28.02.2011 21:03

Would it be a better idea to give them false information instead?

That might throw a bigger spanner in the works and it would be less likely to give you grief.

Didn't a load of people put their religion as "Jedi" last time or something?

anon


Stop the entire census!

28.02.2011 22:39

Stop the entire census! Someone no-one has heard of has written a long boring article on a site no-ne reads telling us all why they are doing something no-one cares about!

Billy no-mates


Some suggestions I've seen on other sites.

28.02.2011 23:15

Some suggestions I've seen on other sites.

1. If the arms dealers are paid regardless of how many forms are returned, then give them more work by photocopying multi copies of your form and filling in loads of gibberish.

2. Answer to question 'Who is your employer' - Mossad. There is actuually a fakebuk page for this.

3. Religion, Jedi is now acceptable on census forms since so many people wrote it on the last one.
So if enough of us are creative, they change 'acceptable' answers on the next form

4. Race. Mixed WhiteOther/Pakistani/Chinese/Irish/Anglo/Saxon/ We are not of your planet etc.

5. Sexuality. Onanistic gerbil-worrier etc (go on, make yer own up).

5. Leave anything you want blank, but write in your objections around the margin of the form. Got this from someone I know that said it's what she did last time with no repercussions.

incognitus nusquam esse


Rogue in a tunic

28.02.2011 23:58

"Stop the entire census! Someone no-one has heard of has written a long boring article on a site no-ne reads telling us all why they are doing something no-one cares about!"

Oh get over yourself.

Lockheed Martin have been after this information for ages. Its not like we weren't expecting it!

Personally, I can't wait for the dbit transfer!

Be a long overdue chance to "light em up"!

And don't go getting shit-street on us while everyone's away, holidays have been long overdue for a lot of us.

What the narks need to worry about is what happens when everyone's back.

The National census data being held in the Pentagon should do nicely.

Lookout


Death to America!

01.03.2011 00:21

So let me get this right then.

You can now go to prison for refusing to give sensitive private information to a foreign government?

Mujahedin


Make a stand

01.03.2011 09:51

I believe that if people really want to make the point that the reason they're not doing the census is because it's being run by these companies, then they need to state that clearly. All the other options are of course viable but they won't get the point across quite the same.

Also it would be really nice to see people stop bickering via comments on these articles and actually discuss the articles themselves.

AJ


The Great Giveaway!

01.03.2011 13:36

"Also it would be really nice to see people stop bickering via comments on these articles and actually discuss the articles themselves."

Good advice, which could be posted on any topic on any subject.

I plan to write on my census form that I have not filled it out because to do so is a security risk. I don't mind taking part in the census for what it is, building a picture of the UK in order that we know the facts about the UK, population density, ethnic diversity and so on. But I am not going to take part in a national security exercise of a foreign government, especially a government with a serious human rights record of abuses.

Why is my government allowing this and why am I not being told about how this data is being used?

The UK national census is a civil exercise to be used by the civil sector, it is not to be used for military purposes.

And what is it that Lockheed Martin have that makes them the first choice for data processing of cellular data on population density anyway?

Are Lockheed Martin the corporation responsible for organised targeting of civilians in the madman's wars?

Lookout


Lockheed Martin

01.03.2011 22:04

Good to see some positive dialogue going on - please spread the idea of boycotting / spoiling in some way. There are 4 weeks to make this a huge idea.

On Lockheed Martin, this is what they mean to me as a writer on greenwash among other things:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRfGzFMypIk

Keith


Don't know what the fuss is about

03.03.2011 12:30

I've managed to reach the grand old age of 41 years without ever appearing on a Census form. I have no intention of changing my lifelong habit this time around.

Bob


How did they get my facebook name?

31.03.2011 23:26

The census form arrived at my (fairly) new address, to which nothing else is registered yet, and is addressed to a name that I only use on facebook.
Does anyone have any idea where their 'database' comes from? It is literally impossible that this information could have come from local government or HMRC.

voodoo


Watch this video...It is 'very' important.

01.04.2011 11:04

Danny Shine of 'The Love Police' (see YouTube), contacts Matt Mckeown - Parliamentary Engagment and Legislation Manager at Office for National Statistics.

There are four videos in all.

There is also a link where you can input a company's web address / IP address to see where it originates from. In this case, entering  http://www.census.gov.uk/ results in the originator being a Lockheed Martin physical location , despite Matt Mckeown stating that Lockheed Martin play no part in the collation of the data, only providing the software for the data capture.

Extremely worrying. It concerns me of the reasons behind the census.

Mikey
mail e-mail: mykytime@yahoo.com


Sorry, forgot to add this link

01.04.2011 11:07

 http://www.ip-adress.com/ip_tracer/195.59.102.163

Cut and paste  http://www.census.gov.uk/ into it. It shows the organisation being Lockheed Martin in Lincolnshire. Not a UK government address.

Mikey
mail e-mail: mykytime@yahoo.com


Just had a Census person at my door

10.04.2011 12:33

It was a lady with clip board knocking at my door early this afternoon.
She said that It appears that I have not sent in my census form. I confirmed that I didn't do it. She asked me if I was going to do it online instead. I also said no to that. She aske d me why.

I responded with a question. Why do you need it?
She said. So we can see how many people live in this country.
I said Phone my local council and ask them. I pay taxes and me and my wife are registered there. Instead of having millions spent on this just get one poor guy or woman to phone the local offices and ask them. What a waste of money.
I also included that I am registered at my local GP and NHS and dentist. As it is so easy for the local council office to get all our bank/tax/travel details go there. It’s all on electronic databases and would save every one loads of money and time.

She asked me if I refused to do it as my final answer.
I do not refuse to. I do not see the need that this government has wasted my tax money to which I have to fill out a form which does not justify its legal and financial means why.

Additional information. In the UK (England) I do not have to disclose my race/religion/sexual preferences and many others. This is called freedom of .... (choice, religion, speech and many more)

Bernie