UK re Data Laws: We risk a police state, Stella Rimington, ex MI5 head

[cyberianpan]

This is an example of how power corrupts. New Labour were elected with high hopes in 1997

Now Stella Rimington is having to try to save the UK's famous civil liberties

[SIZE=4]Spy chief: We risk a police state[/SIZE]
Dame Stella Rimington, the former head of MI5, has warned that the fear of terrorism is being exploited by the Government to erode civil liberties and risks creating a police state

“It would be better that the Government recognised that there are risks, rather than frightening people in order to be able to pass laws which restrict civil liberties, precisely one of the objects of terrorism: that we live in fear and under a police state,” she said.
...
In 2005, she said the Government’s plans for ID cards were “absolutely useless” and would not make the public any safer. Last year she criticised attempts to extend the period of detention without charge for terrorism suspects to 42 days as excessive, shortly before the plan was rejected by Parliament.

Her latest remarks were made as the Home Office prepares to publish plans for a significant expansion of state surveillance, with powers for the police and security services to monitor every email, as well as telephone and internet activity.
...more

Over here we don't even barely even question similar laws ... are we now all trusting in the State ?


cYp

[Christine Murray]

Digital Rights Ireland has had interesting pieces on TDR , haven't looked in for a while though.

[Christine Murray]

Hi cYp this is getting blanket media coverage on Guardian, IT and London Independent.
I don't have time to add in the links . Google it but only if you UnChrome firstly:

UnChrome - Anonymize Google Chrome - UnChrome removed the unique ID from Google Chrome

SRWare Iron - The Browser of the Future

[iartaoiseach]

Anyone seen V for Vendetta. its not great but it seems like a thinly veiled dig at these policies. keep the population cowed by constant terror alerts.

[cHeal]

Anyone seen V for Vendetta. its not great but it seems like a thinly veiled dig at these policies. keep the population cowed by constant terror alerts.

ha ha, I seen it just this weekend. Good movie, nothing spectacular or particularly new but an interesting re-telling of an old tale.

[ibis]

Anyone seen V for Vendetta. its not great but it seems like a thinly veiled dig at these policies. keep the population cowed by constant terror alerts.

The graphic novel came out a good while ago (started 1982). There's nothing new under the sun.

[iartaoiseach]

The graphic novel came out a good while ago (started 1982). There's nothing new under the sun.

I knew it was a graphic novel didn't realise it was that far back. strange how relevant the message is all the same. history repeats and we still never learn eh?

[Mr Crowley]

Anyone seen V for Vendetta. its not great but it seems like a thinly veiled dig at these policies. keep the population cowed by constant terror alerts.

The Americans were at the same thing for the first few years post 9-11; it took on a farcical quality.

[euroboy]

And there was that interesting report last week from the House of Lords on surveilliance. There seems to be a growing concern amongst high level politicans and officials that they have lost a valuable freedom.

Anyone who has been to Liverpool Street station in London, will know the extent the British are monitored.

And rather than object, the British people have willingly agreed to it (if not called for it) because of the politics of fear the Bristish govt have engaged in on int'l terrorism, gang crime and social dispots.

Britain's surveillance and monitoring has given me the idea that the main reason the Brits act out and play monkey when their are abroad is because they cant let their hair loose at home for fear of an ASBO, a ticket in the post or a knock on the door weeks later after some cop reviewed CCTV images.
They 'GO' crazy when they have the freedom that other 'democracies' enjoy and arent monitored by CCTV cameras.

[iartaoiseach]

And there was that interesting report last week from the House of Lords on surveilliance. There seems to be a growing concern amongst high level politicans and officials that they have lost a valuable freedom.

Anyone who has been to Liverpool Street station in London, will know the extent the British are monitored.

And rather than object, the British people have willingly agreed to it (if not called for it) because of the politics of fear the Bristish govt have engaged in on int'l terrorism, gang crime and social dispots.

Britain's surveillance and monitoring has given me the idea that the main reason the Brits act out and play monkey when their are abroad is because they cant let their hair loose at home for fear of an ASBO, a ticket in the post or a knock on the door weeks later after some cop reviewed CCTV images.
They 'GO' crazy when they have the freedom that other 'democracies' enjoy and arent monitored by CCTV cameras.

For once I can say at least we have it better her. relatively more freedom of expression/ less PC madness. UK has lost its way under New Labour(Cherie Blair). Granted the alternative is not great. Dave 'i only inhaled once ' Cameron makes Enda look like a heavyweight.