Microsoft have just filed for a patent that could potentially turn their best selling X-Box accessory, Kinect, into Big Brother.  Microsoft have developed software that can detect the number of people in the room partaking of the game or movie.  If the number exceeds that allowed by the license, then your x-box reports you to Microsoft and action taken.  To quote Microsoft, “The users consuming the content on a display device are monitored so that if the number of user-views licensed is exceeded, remedial action may be taken.”

Apple also filed for a patent in September for “Apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device”. This means they would be able to remotely disable mobiles or tablets over a particular area.

Also Google have a number of patents in the area of facial recognition.  Eric Schmidt has publicly admitted the company has held back from applying some of their technology, as it “crosses the line of creepy”.

As we share more and more of our personal information online, and as we become more comfortable with the types of surveillance that are common, is it only a matter of time before we begin to accept these technologies as part of every day life? We are already comfortable with Google, Facebook, Twitter etc., compiling huge files of information about our lives – at which point do we say enough? And do we want governments having control of these types of technology?