“If government can’t snoop on it, you shouldn’t be allowed to use it”
A glorious public statement made by U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron after the terrorist attacks in Paris followed by: “In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which we cannot read?”
“My answer to that question is no we must not.”
It sounds a bit “Police State” to regular citizens doesn’t it? So, what’s the rest of the story? The short version; the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom desires to ban the use of encrypted messaging services and phone apps. To date, Apps such as iMessage, Skype, WhatsApp, Hangouts and Snapchat encrypt customers’ communications for what else? Security. The side effect of this enhanced security is that law enforcement cannot access people’s messaging data even WITH a warrant or a subpoena.
In the wake of the Paris attacks, officials believe (or so they are professing) that if they had access to messaging data, the attacks may have been able to be prevented or at least ended in a short time frame. It’s an arguable point but, seems more like a game of “truth or scare”. Is this where the exalted march toward Dystopia starts for the English citizens? History shows us that anyone from our leaders to criminal individuals (sometimes one in the same) have always used the meek and regular people of the world to protect themselves or even just hide. The Pharaohs surrounded themselves with children to make would-be attackers hesitate. Aztecs, Toltecs and other civilizations surrounded their leaders with holy men. The underground movements of the world wars were diluted within the masses of regular people. Now in 2015 we have the ability to watch over EVERYONE so they can’t blend in to hide. That’s great. What about the rights of the rest of the populace
“If I am Prime Minister, I will make sure it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that makes sure we do not allow terrorists safe spaces to communicate with each other.” ~ David Cameron
“Government must have the right legal framework to enable us to intercept the communications of potential terrorists.” ~ David Cameron
The legislation he is speaking of just may be a revival of what was nicknamed the “Snoopers Charter”. This little honey was proposed to the U.K. leadership back in 2011/12 by Home Secretary, Theresa May. Correctly known as the Draft Communications Data Bill, this legislation would require Internet service providers and mobile phone companies to maintain records (but not the content) of each user’s internet browsing activity including social media, email, voice calls, internet gaming, and mobile phone messaging services and store the records for 12 months. Surely the attempt to modify the part about content will happen too.
In reply to all the hub bub, Labour leader Ed Miliband, stated: “It’s important for security services to keep up to date with technology, but it must be done in the right way with basic liberties protected”. Needless to say, the whole speech has raised tempers and protest and it hasn’t even had any official progress yet. The U.K. is not a lone candle in the night through this whole scenario either. Other European governments in addition to them are also calling on Internet service providers and companies that operate online to provide more information about their customers and given the frustration caused by Apple and Google’s decisions to encrypt customers’ cell phones, U.S. law enforcement isn’t far behind.
Governments and Internet companies have been sparring over customer privacy for years, but it’s typically the totalitarian governments that ban companies who refuse to hand over customer communications data. In 2010, India said it would block BlackBerry services unless the company made customers’ messages available to the government. BlackBerry settled the dispute by agreeing to give the Indian government “lawful access to secure data”. China, Saudi Arabia and other countries have also made similar demands on messaging services. Some have settled with concessions, others without. Now, the debate has extended to western countries as well, as criminals increasingly use encrypted communications services to communicate with one another despite agencies like the NSA who have been illegally monitoring Joe citizen and still can’t seem to get things accomplished.
Where does one draw the line in the sand? It doesn’t matter what part of the world you reside in or what you do to earn your money. You, the citizens of the world have their rights to privacy and freedom from persecution. You also have the right to safety and security. Does the end justify the means? What are you willing to give up? What are you willing to fight for?
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This is scary. I’m from the UK and have already been getting very angry about the amount of intrusion online. Even games for our phones now ask for our identiy, adress books, sms and call log details etc just to install them. The amount of surveillance and similar things is disgusting, and now this!?
I feel powerless in terms of fighting this abuse of the internet and I’m starting to feel genuinely paranoid and slightly depressed about the fact I can’t do anything on my phone or computer without some sleezy world “leaders” knowing about it. It’s like being in prison without actually doing anything criminal. Freedom and privacy are incomprehensible concepts in todays world.
Is there anything I and other regular people can do to fight this?
Sorry for the late response, you could get a VPN (Virtual Private Network)(I recommend CyberGhost 5 VPN) and some add-ons for Firefox or whatever you use. I recommend Ghostery, Disconnect, and Blur. Those are some extra security features to use if you want to greatly increase privacy.
You could always use a VPN and web extensions like Ghostery, Disconnect, Blur, and a web proxy like HMA!. But obviously if the government payed enough money on trying to find you, they can and will, that’s the sad truth.
I wonder how long before they have “finger men” in the UK? Can’t say I’m surprised by any of this given London has how many 1000’s of cameras watching everyone every minute of the day.
Privacy is dead at this moment in Usa
the NSA doesnt want to protect the populations, they want to control them and protect the government
sh4dow is right. This isn’t about helping population at all. And to answer to Adam start usig encrytption, everybody.
Considering terrorism attacks (9/11 & 7/7 for example) are state funded by western government, our politicians have a nerve even suggesting policies such as this. We’re not stupid. Their only goal is more control and more power over the population. Once introduced how long will it take for that information to be sold to the corporations that pushed for this to go through? They think they can treat us like mushrooms, keep us in the dark and feed us bullshit! I for one will not pull my pants down for these wankers to shaft me.
The world leaders are not trying to protect anyone but their own interests. With things as they are now, it’s safe to say privacy is dead and the governments of any country are indoctrinating people with fears and misinformation. Remember the “outrage” when Snowden (a real hero by any standards) leaked NSA files? If the government of USA gave a f*** about it’s citizen, there would have been some form of apology and maybe a few changes to how NSA operates. It’s CLEARLY AND OBVIOUSLY violating the Charter by intruding on people’s privacy. EVERYONE’s privacy. Nothing has changed, has it? The USA, and also dozens of other governments, simply ignore the citizens. They are out of control and out of their mind.
One word for you Anarchy! Not chaos like when protests get hijacked by violent groups of people. I mean ANARCHY
A = Anti-
N = Narcissism
A = Anti-
R = Rebellion
C = Caring
H = Hierarchy
Y = Yeshua (Jesus)
Anarchy!
-CGF Basically to unite and rally against the corrupt government and to stand together as humanity to re-establish society to be used for love and peace, not the Elite’s agenda for humanity. Anyway I hope everyone who knows the truth about our inner-power knows how to use it against corrupt people and how to use our power to help each other.
Unfortunately, one of the only ways to attain any sort of privacy in modern day is to give up the “conveniences” of modern life. We as a society have become more than dependent on our devices and downright lazy in many cases. Certain opinions maintain that we are locked into a downward spiral toward Dystopia. The nightmares of some of the films we see involving futuristic societies are no longer just that. They are distinct possibility. So, ask yourself… what am I willing to change or give up in order to make my life and the life of my family “better” or safer?
Red Phone App. Any questions?