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Yes, bring on technology; it has become a technological world – BUT – it is fraught with dangers too


The spectacle of armed gangsters bursting into a bank, faces muzzled in handkerchiefs or scarves, guns blazing amidst shouts of “Stick ‘em Up” and “Give us all your cash” are long gone.

Hollywood films depicting such themes were a dime-a-dozen and included the familiar car chase by Police vehicles, sirens and horns screeching and of course, finally, justice was done and the robbers caught.

Most gun blazing today is the work of terrorists killing innocent people or the frequent mad person (mostly in the US) shooting dead all and sundry for such happenings as having been dismissed from their job, or maybe being denied a promotion.

Right, so bank thefts and jewellery stores have virtually disappeared – but theft and robbery remain rampant, in fact to an even greater extent.

Technology has revolutionised the world but it has also revolutionised theft and robbery. Nowadays you can stay comfortably at home, relaxed in an armchair, sipping a gin-and-tonic – and still steal and rob.

The internet has given rise to fraud, hacking, false accounts, money-laundering and the concealment of vast amounts of money – all from the comfort of your own home.

One would think that with great awareness, the world’s banks – certainly the major world banks – have exercised strong technological protection against such risks. Sadly not so and massive banks in such banking-renowned countries like Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Britain and the United States have all been involved in hackings and “scandals” at some time or other.

Indeed, our own miniscule-in-comparison Bank of Valletta was hacked some months ago from a location deemed to have been the other side of the world and has now only been given a BBB rating by Fitch Agency not because of any financial shortcomings but because they are still deemed to have “risks” they have been urged to take care of quickly.

So, the banking and insurance world is in turmoil trying to urgently cover its risks.

Most international law states “you are innocent until proven guilty”. With banks this has been reverted into “you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent”!

HOWEVER, there is an even more disconcerting danger – the impact that technology has on today’s youngsters. Yesterday it was reported that a 17-year-old youth in Malta copied the internet fantasies of Grand Theft Auto and is being alleged of having gone on a theft and car-crashing spree, allegedly after being impressed by his Ipad screen of such happenings.

I take the case of my six-year-old grandson. Despite all our efforts to deter him and counsel him not to watch such rubbish as Grand Theft Auto, Spiderman, Batman and all that nonsense, his Ipad is permanently clicked on to such escapades and in his own way he acts them out at home, pretending to smash cars, pretending to shoot and beat people up and generally be unpleasant.

Televised Maltese television dramas are replete with violence, shootings, stabbings, general violence and domestic violence – and there are some who will vouch it’s all good stuff, shows the modern world and they love it.

Putting everything into perspective, technology has done a wealth of good in communications, awareness, understanding, in health and personal issues, travel and almost any sphere you can think of.

However, there is a downside too and this is growing and expanding by the minute.

ALBERT FENECH


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