government snooping

[emmie]

I wonder why the government think this is necessary or indeed remotely right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17580906

[sunny-dave]

I wonder if there is some stuff about using intercepts as evidence buried in the fine print - possibly removing the requirement for the usual 'proper disclosure' to the defence .... hmmm

[abstibus]

My sis once phoned a friend's house (correct number) and was answered by one of the branches of the security services.
I assume the call was diverted - heaven knows why, as all they talk about is family matters and shopping, and no family members could remotely be accused of anything underhand or sinister.

[d9f1c7]

I feel sorry for the poor sods who've got to monitor the mindless drivel on Twitter/Facebook!

[Gromit]

It is all about control. The internet and mobile phones have made it easier for everyone to get information, work with others, plan and execute an action.

Most of us would say that is a good thing. This new found freedom is great for us, But it is very threatening for a Government. The powers they are about to take allow them to take back control.

As usual, this is done by concocting a bogus threat and then taking powers that will supposedly counter the non existant threat. Dress it up as crime or terrorism prevention and people will support it.

The Government already have powers to snoop on criminals and terrorists. Why they then need these new powers to snoop on everyone else is sinister, and we should all be suspicious.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Attempts by the last Labour government to take similar steps failed after huge opposition, including from the Conservatives. ///

I have suspected since this coalition government got into power that it is more a 'left of centre' government, than a true Tory one.

These type of surveillance measures are more in fitting to the once East German Stasi or the Russian KGB, and do not in any way fit in with true Right-Wing principles.

[Canary42]

It's probably a smokescreen to hide something more sinister going on.

This unelected Government continues to introduce measures for which it has no mandate from the electorate - that's so-called democracy.

[Davethedog]

This is big brother incarnate, I can't think of anyone they won't upset

[Grizelda43]

Has the gov got the wherewithall, ie, staff and computer capacity to eavesdrop on every phone call, E - Mail and internet usage? They will be so inundated with all the niff naff and trivia passing between teenagers, that there is a real danger of them missing the really important criminal and terrorist traffic.

[bazwillrun]

if its so important in the fight against terrorism etc, then why not bring it in before the olympics, why wait ?!

Like most things, they bring in one law knowing that it will cover a multitude of other things they want to clamp down on or get control over

[bazwillrun]

@Grizelda

they dont need a physical presence to monitor all this digital data, software with sophisticated algorithms will do most of the work, it will look for keywords, patterns, etc etc and when it finds certain things its been programmed to find it will produce reports and then humans will get involved

[DTCwordfan]

Its already used in the States....

get ready to type in "Poppy, that Load of Colombian that you brewed in the pot, well you made a right hash of it - God, coffee is like a crack drug to me, but you are a heroin....."

[Grizelda43]

Bazwillrun
Don't they do that now to a certain extent. Why bring in yet another law? Why not use the laws they already have?

[sunny-dave]

I think a big blue light & siren are activated every time key words are detected within shouting distance of each other...

... pretty much like the panic alarm in Ab_Ed's office every time someone types "Banned Miss User Whiplash Deleted Thong Thread Aardvark" <possibly>

[anotheoldgit]

/// Controversial rulings by the European court of human rights are in danger of having a corrosive effect on people's support for civil liberties, the prime minister has warned. ///

Jan 2012 D.Cameron Addressing the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, which oversees the ECOHR.

Not in the least David, the majority of people are still very supportive of our Civil Liberties, that is why we are totally against these latest 'snooping' measures.

[Grizelda43]

Whatever you do, do not phone your other half from the garden centre and ask which fertilizer the want

[ChuckFickens]

As DT said, this is already in place in America, this is the list of words that are watched for over there...

http://www.activistpo...-feds-monitor-on.html

I was tempted to copy and paste the whole lot into this answer, but I don't want men in black suits knocking on my door :)

[anotheoldgit]

Interesting list Chuck, who is going to be the first to make up an innocent enough post, incorporating as many words possible from that list, just to see what happens?

[LazyGun]

I am always uneasy when civil rights are further eroded by an authoritarian government, and especially so when they trot out the old canards about protection from terrorism. The idea that we cede power to the government to allow them to monitor everyone in order, so they say, to catch a few is authoritarianism at its patronising best.

Everyone should be concerned with this gradual erosion of civil rights and liberties, because it is a usually irreversible step along the slippery slope to repression and a police state.

Nor is this issue especially a Right- Left thing - Its a Libertarian - Authoritarian thing, independant of the usual Right/Left schism.