Last week I went to my local bank branch to make an over the counter withdrawal and I got the usual we have to update our records so will you please confirm your address and date of birth. I was then asked if I had a photo ID such as a valid drivers license which I produced. None of that worried me as it now seems to be normal procedure to ask for these things. What did surprise me was the next question i.e. do you have any foreign tax liabilities. That fazed me a little as I have only just returned from working overseas, so I said why are you asking me that question I would have thought that would be between myself and the ATO as I have to declare whatever I have earned and tax I have paid when I do my annual tax return. She said that they had been instructed to ask this - in order to I complete my transaction I just said no. Is this type of question normal or am I being a bit paranoid about big brother knowing everything that you do ?
am I being a bit paranoid about big brother knowing everything that you do ?
You are not being paranoid.
However I suggest the generations which follow us should prepare themselves, very much, for Big Brother. Orwell had much wisdom.
Guard your privacy, your information very carefully. Do not splash it across Facebook or the like and do not give information to government or a business simply because they ask for it and if they insist and you want/need the service or product then lie. Indeed the more false data you can insert into such systems the better.
Once data is entered into a computer system it is never, ever forgotten and the new evil is data matching.
Such things are amongst the reasons I shall shortly be going nomad.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
That ship has already sailed Mike H. Our personal information has been recorded for decades. Data matching isn't new but at least there are laws attempting to measure and control it's uses. I'm not sure why information regarding foreign taxation is required or expected but given some countries go to great lengths to ensure their sovereignty extends beyond their borders, it doesn't surprise me a financial institution and Fed govt would be interested.
