The news that hit my feed this morning made my blood run cold. A woman seeking an abortion was tracked using Flock camera systems – those ubiquitous license plate readers that seem to multiply on our streets like weeds after rain. The authorities used this surveillance network to build a case against her, turning what should be private healthcare into a digital dragnet.

This isn’t just about reproductive rights, though that’s certainly part of it. This is about how we’ve sleepwalked into a surveillance state while telling ourselves it’s all for our own good.

Philip K. Dick must be rolling in his grave. What started as dystopian science fiction in “Minority Report” has just become official UK government policy, with their announcement about using AI to help police “catch criminals before they strike.” The jokes practically write themselves, except this time, nobody’s laughing.

Reading through the government’s announcement feels like watching a masterclass in technological naivety. They’re promising AI systems that can somehow predict criminal behaviour, but the details are frustratingly vague. Will cameras scan for suspicious body language? Will algorithms flag people carrying kitchen knives home from the shops? The lack of specifics is almost as concerning as the concept itself.