By Michaela Whitton at theantimedia.org
United Kingdom — In June 2013, whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the shocking extent of government mass surveillance networks across the world. His disclosure of top secret documents ultimately led U.K. home secretary, Theresa May, to propose the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill. On Wednesday morning, a series of tweets from Snowden warned the communications data covered by the legislation is “the activity log of your life.”
Last month, Anti-Media covered the U.K. government’s proposed new spying laws. The blanket mass surveillance will enable storage of web users’ activity, including social media, for at least 12 months under the new Draft Investigatory Powers Bill. Spies will have increased access over private data, including the ability to remotely hack and download information stored on our phones and computers. The new draft legally obliges internet service providers in the U.K. to assist in bypassing security measures that would otherwise prevent security services from accessing your phone.
The U.K. government is granting itself the power to look into everyone’s personal life whenever they like by using powers ripe for abuse. This private data can be used to target journalists, persecute activists, profile and discriminate against minorities, and crack down on free speech.
On Thursday, Tory MP Richard Graham was accused of quoting Nazi propaganda while speaking in favour of the new Snoopers Charter in the House of Commons. Defending the government’s bill, the Conservative MP for Gloucester clumsily quoted a statement widely-attributed to Nazi mouthpiece Joseph Goebbels by declaring “if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.”
Snowden has previously obliterated the nothing to hide argument, and prior to Graham’s outburst, took to Twitter to slam Britain’s breathtaking new measures.
“It’s only communications data” = “It’s only a comprehensive record of your private activities.” It’s the activity log of your life. #IPBill
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) 4. November 2015
“I don’t need privacy, I’ve nothing to hide” argues “I don’t need free speech, I’ve nothing to say.” Rights = Power https://t.co/AOMc79DIOS — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) 4. November 2015
Your web records are not like “an itemised phone bill,” they’re like a list of every book you’ve ever opened. #SnoopersCharter
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) 4. November 2015
By my read, #SnoopersCharter legitimizes mass surveillance. It is the most intrusive and least accountable surveillance regime in the West. — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) 4. November 2015
The U.K.’s major extension of mass surveillance powers — and simultaneous undermining of individual privacy — treats everyone like criminals and tramples fundamental rights. For those still confused as to who the data harvesting will protect, perhaps this image from human rights watchdog Privacy International will help to clarify:
This article (Edward Snowden Just Slammed UK Mass Surveillance) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Michaela Whitton and theAntiMedia.org.Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, email [email protected].
WOWWWW!!! I guess no surprise that there aren’t any comments about this article. Where the hell did peoples interest in their own personal freedoms disappear to? And If this what America is becoming, we might as well just start World War 3 and let all our people die off since no one cares about anything except their own personal social media accounts. Again, more proof America as a whole needs to either be reeducated or these people just need a bigger reminder that our government cares only for those that earn millions of dollars per year. What the hell is wrong with the majority of this ignorant country. And for all of you that think I should leave this country if this is how I feel, let me be frank, it isn’t me or people like me that need to leave, it’s people like all those that think nothing is wrong or that our country isn’t corrupt are the ones that really need to leave or better yet, just die so we don’t have to ever worry about ignorance again.
The American people are dumb down now some are awaken but the majority are dumb and stupid!
10thgroup SF Veteran!
I couldn’t agree with you more, one of the most important lessons I have learned is to never underestimate the power of stupid people in numbers especially since America has an abundance of them. for reasons i can’t wrap my mind around, other than to say people are afraid of the consequences of their actions, particularly if they have been on autopilot their entire life, even if those said actions would be in their ultimate interest. if they want to be ignorant enough to willfully surrender their privacy rights, I am ok with that but why the hell they become obstacle for the rest of us is an enigmatic problem all on its own.