Sunday, June 07, 2009
New Home Secretary must get a grip on surveillance culture
Now that we have a new Home Secretary many people are looking to him for a new approach. In particular we would like to see Alan Johnson start to reverse the erosion of civil liberties and undo the growth of the surveillance state that has progressed under his predecessors.
It does not help therefore that Sir David Pepper, who ran the GCHQ listening centre for five years, has suggested that all internet and phone traffic should be recorded to help the fight against terrorism. In many ways, he would say that wouldn't he.
The Liberal Democrats have quite rightly responded by saying that the government's present plans for a database of all internet and telephone traffic are "incompatible with a free country and a free people". In February, the Lords constitution committee said electronic surveillance and collection of personal data had become "pervasive" in British society and threatens to undermine democracy.
The fact is that we need to strike a balance. Intelligence chiefs and military advisors are there to provide security for citizens of this country, but we cannot achieve that by giving up the rights and liberties that this security is there to protect. If we go too far then we have effectively handed victory to those who want to curtail our freedoms.
I am fed up with politicians and others raising the spectre of terrorism to justify unacceptable measures when the reality is that their proposals make no difference. The case on ID cards is one example. Even government ministers have stopped using terrorism as a reason why we need these expensive internal passports and the accompanying database.
Sir David Pepper is out of tune with the views of many citizens in this country and so is the government he advises.
It does not help therefore that Sir David Pepper, who ran the GCHQ listening centre for five years, has suggested that all internet and phone traffic should be recorded to help the fight against terrorism. In many ways, he would say that wouldn't he.
The Liberal Democrats have quite rightly responded by saying that the government's present plans for a database of all internet and telephone traffic are "incompatible with a free country and a free people". In February, the Lords constitution committee said electronic surveillance and collection of personal data had become "pervasive" in British society and threatens to undermine democracy.
The fact is that we need to strike a balance. Intelligence chiefs and military advisors are there to provide security for citizens of this country, but we cannot achieve that by giving up the rights and liberties that this security is there to protect. If we go too far then we have effectively handed victory to those who want to curtail our freedoms.
I am fed up with politicians and others raising the spectre of terrorism to justify unacceptable measures when the reality is that their proposals make no difference. The case on ID cards is one example. Even government ministers have stopped using terrorism as a reason why we need these expensive internal passports and the accompanying database.
Sir David Pepper is out of tune with the views of many citizens in this country and so is the government he advises.
Comments:
<< Home
Blog on the money...this surveillance culture is more often used to track political opponents from other parties and journalists or even bloggers..
Journalists should really go to town on this surveillance culture of labour cus they are probably being spyed upon
Post a Comment
Journalists should really go to town on this surveillance culture of labour cus they are probably being spyed upon
# posted by 
: 4:04 PM
: 4:04 PM<< Home
