Even as late as the early 2000's, a corporations software 'phoning home' without the users knowledge (and explicit consent) was a minor scandal and a real privacy concern. Now such behaviour is so commonplace, it is unremarkable.
> nothing compared to the number in the south east of England!
An honourable mention to RAF Bradwell.
One of the nearest to the coast, it had more than it's fair share of shot up aircraft returning from raids and crash-landing..... and consequently, has the most bizarre war memorial.
Time was, if a neighbour insisted on daily filming a family entering and leaving their own home, they would have been given a smack in the mouth for being a nosy bastard.
Quite how recording your neighbours has become socially acceptable I will never understand.
> Normally I can chuckle at El Reg's hyperbolic sense of humour,
Since El Reg's increasing focus on the US market, their sense of humor (note the lack of a U), and what made them 'different' from the rest, has been in terminal decline.....
Though we will always have Paris. [1]
[1] A common snarky reference on Reg comment boards, referring to the removal of the Paris Hilton icon. A change that was no doubt made to avoid offending US lawyers.