1984 Arrives

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Government plans to monitor all communications by private individuals without a warrant:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17576745

I honestly cannot imagine anyone in the country who would be foolish enough to give any government this power. What is this country turning into? China, Iran? They have absolutely no need for this power, whatever they try to say there is no increased risk of terrorism in the country, there was 1 attack 5 years ago, its not like there are bombs going off every fortnight.

This is one law I will join a protest against and I hope everyone here will too if you value living in a free society, if this law passes then you are free no longer. It's just a short step from this to a list of banned sites that grows and grows and gets you sent to jail for visiting.

Ever watch a film like V for Vendetta and wonder how the people let the country become an authoritarian state? I bet you thought to yourself, that's impossible we'd never let that happen. Well this is it, this is that authoritarian state beginning right here, will you sit back now and let it happen or will you show your government that Britons still value their liberty above all else?

 

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The article points out the last Labour government tried to pull this. Outrage and annoyance stopped it.

It was the current government that stopped it by saying it was going too far, now they are attempting to pass an even more outrageous law.

 

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April fools?

Pretty disgusting attempt at humour if it is.

 

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Time to don the proverbial tinfoil hat... and install PGP. Although in saying that, I was about to go all raeg!!! but then I read Ian's comment on the BBC website...


I agree with this guy 100%, especially the bold bit.

Facebook can read what I decide to put on facebook. Google obviously has access to my email as its the service I chose to use. There is no opt in choice with this law.

 

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Good to see the ratio of "It doesn't affect me, derp" idiots to actual sensible people is quite low on these forums. I'll be emailing my representatives and taking part in any London rallies against this.

 

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They're not going to do this without just cause. No one is going to just paralyse your assets because they feel like it, only if they feel like your a threat to the countrys security.

This is an issue about whether the government and security forces be the ones to decide this or if a judge should be the one to decide this. Personally I prefer a decision by an independant judge. If you want to give government and police free rein to do whatever they want to whoever they want then I despair for you, try not to get conned by any Nigerian princes who are only asking for your money for the "good of the nation".

What's to say that in 50 years time a more despotic regime is in control of the country? All of a sudden we can't stop them from snooping into our private lives to see if we're talking bad about them because in 2012 we signed into law a bill that gives them every legal right to do so.

 

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It really doesn't bother me, I don't understand why you think I would care that the government know what websites I go on, google already know, as does my ISP. I'm hardly worried about the tech guy at Gov HQ having a giggle at my choice of "personal time" .

Well I do, and it should be my choice who knows that information. By your inaction you are allowing your government to take that information from me without my consent. Congratulations on your country turning into a police state.

 

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But what actually about that makes your life any worse? You don't want them knowing which websites you visit, great, I get that, but does it actually affect your day to day life in any way?

The government knowing what websites you visit isn't a "police state", it's not even going to affect you.

Chances are it will never affect me, that makes no difference though. Just because they are the government that gives them absolutely no right to information about my personal life which I don't choose to give them. People see the government as this all powerful organisation which you must let do whatever they want. You're forgetting that the government are just administrators for your country. You hire them, you fire them, they work for you, not the other way round.

 

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That's fair enough. I can't argue against you if you simply don't want for them to have access to this information, that's your choice . I just don't see it as that much of an issue; when there's anything serious that they want to see about any of us, I'm sure that there is little difficulty in obtaining a warrant anyway.

And that's why we can't allow them to pass this law. They have the means already to get the information if it's needed in an active investigation through legitimate independent courts. Allowing them to take it without a warrant is removing my right of privacy over what I do in my own home. If anything this law should be only allowed on an opt-in basis. All the people who think it will help the security of the state (aka fools) can opt-in if they care about it that much. If this law passes I'll be doing everything in my power to hide my activities by using Tor or other means.

Someone on my facebook came up with the good idea of ccing GCHQs support desk with every single email you send. Get enough people to do it and they'll realise what a tonne of **** they'll be getting themselves into

 

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Christ, before you know it we'll be like America, arresting people and holding them for years without a hearing. Don't let the train crash that is American justice occur in this country too.

 

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BBC seems to be subtley supporting this bill based in the wording of most of their articles, I always knew it was state run media but I thought that sometimes it might have the countries best interests at heart.

These secret trials will take the headlines while the internet monitoring is quietly brought in without people paying attention. We'll get some concessions on the secret trials and the majority of the public will go away thinking they won a victory without having realised that the government got exactly what they wanted all along.

Also as for the EU protecting us, the current Internet snooping was actually brought in due to an EU directive in 2009, they're usually worse than the British government at wanting to snoop, probably stems from the fact that most euro-bosses aren't even voted in.