On last week's "Question Time" (Still available on the BBC's iPlayer, if you're quick), the Government's proposal to keep a record of every phone call, email, blog post and text message was discussed. The usual balance of civil liberties versus national safety was bandied about, but then a curious exchange occurred.

Geoff Hoon, Minister of "what haven't I tried yet?" was asked how far the government is willing to go in undermining civil liberties in order to monitor extremists.

"To stop terrorists killing people in our society quite a long way, actually." Which suggests that record keeping may not be the limit of government plans. Certainly, suggestions have been made* that they should be able to install spyware in any computer to read its hard drive or record every keystroke made. **

"The biggest civil liberty of all is not to be killed by a terrorist," was Mr Hoon's justification. Is he right? What actions would be justified? How much liberty must we lose to guarantee our liberties?

Discuss.



* Seriously. European Interior Miniters considered the matter at a recentsymposium.
** This is the same technology that phishers use to stel your banking details. If anyone else does this, it can land you in jail.

Labels: freedom, politics

I am becoming increasingly concerned about the number of cases of people being harassed, arrested, having cameras, film and memory cards confiscated by police (or more commonly, PCSOs) for the heinous crime of taking photographs in public. After all, the police can take photos of us.

There was the case of the Welsh bus fanatic who liked to sit and wait to see what type of bus would come around the corner (as opposed to most people, who would wait to see _if_ a bus would come around the corner) who was accused of being a terrorist and a paedophile.

This case was about someone taking photos in Hull who was "detained" by a store security guard.

This video clip has a rather good example of how undertrained PCSOs confront a videographer who was trying to take footage in a public street. It starts with a sudden gloved hand over the camera lens, then it's "give me a good reason why you're filming," then, alarmingly, he is asked to produce his ID (didn't know that was required yet), and when photographer asks what law he is breaking, the response is: "shut up."

To be clear, there is no UK law against taking photographs or video footage in a public space. If you are in a private building (including a railway station) or are taking pictures of military installations (which does not include police cars) then there are restrictions. But there should be nothing to stop you taking pictures in Piccadilly Gardens (for example) at any time of day or night.

Labels: freedom, justice

Today's the day of blogging action...

Hat tip: Nevermind the Bricolage


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Labels: freedom, global, justice, politics