Not really a rant, more of an annoyance that I've developed about big brother and it wanting to collect information.

So I am leaving Switzerland in a few months and recently gave up my flat. I am now living in a flat share for 3-4 weeks. After that I need to find another flat share for another few weeks before I finally leave. Because of this I thought I'd use my old address for any correspondence. I have arranged with the post office that they collect my mail for me--I simply just turn up when I feel like it and they get my mail. I am even ensuring that I do not move out of the city/even postcode so I am above board with taxes etc.

However on leaving my old flat my agency required me to give them a new address so they could inform the kreisbüro. I also have to inform the kreisbüro with 14 days (which I did today). As I don't have a contract in my name I now have to get a form signed by the contract owner of the flat share where I am to show that I haven't just used anyone's address I guess.

Fine but makes me think. I am not happy about this big brother actually. I am above board but still... registration with the authorities is how it's always been in many countries on continental Europe but the UK and other anglo saxon countries don't have it. I can now understand why people didn't want the ID cards in the UK--because it came with a big database with a £2000 fine for not keeping it up to date. Having said that the UK does have a serious CCTV camera problem.

Just think about this next time you get a text message from Stadt Zuerich detailing to the nearest 1 how many citizens live in the city. Scary stuff.