News and Politics | October 15, 2008 | 12 comments

Terrorism watchdog warns against Big Brother database

source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-storm-over-big-brother-database-961...

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The government's own terrorism watchdog, Berriew QC, told The Independent that the plan to store information about every phone call, email and internet visit in a central database was "awful" and warned that government agencies needs to be prevented from "conducting fishing expeditions" into our private lives. At least someone is paying attention.

Despite warnings from the independent anti-terrorist law reviewer, Jacqui Smith is expected to announce the government's intentions to press ahead with these plans to stockpile more data as a means to combat the growing terrorist threat to Britain. It's all part of the Data Communications Bill that is under consideration by Ministers and expected to be introduced in the Queen's Speech in December. The measure would allow warrantless searches and data collection of all personal communications. Proponents of the bill maintain that no content will be stored, though after a quick read through the bill, that claim is indeterminate at best.
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12 comments // Terrorism watchdog warns against Big Brother database

  • Mark701
    • 0
      Mark701  

    • This has become a runaway train. Terrorists aren't stupid. If they know if a form of communication is being surveilled they will either choose not to use that communication or speak in code so that they don't say any of the magic keywords that flag the listeners.

      Having too much information is also an issue. With literally billions of bits to sort through, it will become next to impossible to sort out the relevant stuff from the chaff. Now, assuming that Big Brother is aware of this, what possible reason could they have to spend hundreds of billions of dollars/pounds on this kind of system. Perhaps to target you and I?

    • 3 years ago
  • Kato2Believe
  • BIOHAZARD
    • 0
      BIOHAZARD  

    • How can one be so NAIVE and say yes to BIG BROTHER when all it is, is to have them watching you 24/7 ! WTF I am still livid about this cellular device thats recorded all the time and now I am on screen for them to know if I want to take a shit on my neighbors lawn ?

      FUCK THIS and FUCK YOU !

      Yes I do live in AMERICA and I do not endorse more than half of our acts, but hell at this scale why dont we nuke everyone back to the fucking ice-age and be back at number 1.

      yeah land of the free. . . . . .

    • 3 years ago
  • goldenways
    • 0
      goldenways  

    • “Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds.”

      --John Perry Barlow

    • 3 years ago
  • synclaire
    • 0
      synclaire  
    • Image

    • These agencies use the guise of "protecting us from terrorists" to weasel their way into our private lives and mine for information to fit their needs. Not only are they spying on regular people but on our troops, peace activists and journalists. Democracy Now had a great report on this topic with James Bamford who has written three books on the NSA and it's secret spying program.

    • 3 years ago
  • krush_productions
    • 0
      krush_productions  

    • I don't think this organization does too much other than tell us whats going on the best way it can. They are in no way keeping the government off of your computer.

    • 3 years ago
  • rebot
  • phillyharper
    • 0
      phillyharper  
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    • This saga continues to get more and more absurd. It's amazing how easy it is for them to justify the needs to erode our privacy and liberty, they simply say a stupid one line sound bite that "criminals and terrorists are communicating".

      They now want access to the data held on us in Facebook and Myspace (amongst other sites) amongst "concern that criminals and terrorists are using websites as a way of concealing their communications, according to Whitehall security sources."

      If you give that allegation more than ten seconds of thought you come to the conclusion that it is utterly ridiculous. There are SO many methods of communication on the internet and Whitehall is "concerned" that criminals are "concealing" their communications via facebook and myspace, the most open communication platforms there are? Give me a break.

      The very fact that they announce their plans to infiltrate these services is counter productive to their said goals. Even IF criminals were using facebook and myspace to communicate, they certainly won't be now, and in the mean time we all get spied on. It is so utterly and entirely absurd it astounds me.

      The holes in these arguments are boundless, people need to be inspired to think them over themselves, question the logic at work and then decide if these incursions on our civil liberties really are in the hope of protecting us.

      The worrying thing is that I think people like Jacqui Smith believe the hype that this is to protect us, she's merrily carrying out her duties as a politician by selling us a directive that was handed to her from elsewhere. These directives all come from the EU and if anyone can explain to me who and how they are thought up, debated, and consequently written then I'm all ears.

    • 3 years ago
  • yeti
    • 0
      yeti  
    • phillyharper:

      Maybe those Facebook Zombie vs Vampire wars were real after-all, and throwing sheep truly was a jihad grenade. Damn-it, but I really would like to see what a terrorist friends circle looks like, how pissed do they get with spam and chain letters?

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • They'll do it and what will people do?

      Nothing. Wait for an 'honest' politician to save everyone. I don't think it's right...I don't see a way around this without loss on both sides.

    • 3 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  

    • If only I could feel solace that I live in America and that could never happen here? But alas, I fear, soon it will be here.

      America definitely needs new Leadership. We need Barack Obama. Barack Obama understands and respects our Constitution. Our Constitution has been our guide and until a "decider" decided it was just a piece of paper, we could feel our rights were being protected.

      One of the most important questions for our Candidates during their final debate, should be their views of our Constitution and our rights as American Citizens? And, do they think George W. has adhered to our Constitution? They should state their views "Out Loud".

      To Ass-u-me our President respects our Constitution, has the possibility to make an "ass" of "u" and "me". We should know they would follow the Constitution.

    • 3 years ago
  • jonnswan
    • 0
      jonnswan  

    • We have to work against these incursions on liberty. Governments will always attempt limits at our freedom as that is often what is entailed by the easiest ways to protect us. That's to say, spying on everyone is likely the easiest way to make sure bad things don't happen (unless bad people are the watchers), but it's also the quickest way to erode our way of life (which is of course the terrorists' aim too).

    • 3 years ago
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