Web surveillance plans create ‘nation of suspects’ 4


Mark Ward reports for the BBC:

Government proposals to extend powers to watch what people do online would create a “nation of suspects”, said MP David Davis.

The former shadow home secretary said the government should be restricting surveillance, not trying to extend it.

Powers granted to police that let them see personal data without a warrant should be rolled back, he said.

Others warned the proposals risked undermining fundamental social ties necessary for a civil society.

The comments were made during a debate on the plans held at the London School of Economics on Thursday.

The Scrambling for Safety conference brought together academics, politicians, computer security experts and the public to debate the current proposals.

The Home Office defended the proposals saying: “It is vital that police and security services are able to obtain communications data in certain circumstances to investigate serious crime and terrorism and to protect the public.”
‘Resisted completely’

Mr Davis – a Conservative backbencher – dubbed the government’s plans a “snooper’s charter”. He said they were a product of ministerial ignorance about both technology and the scale of the terrorist threat facing the UK.

He said the government proposals would put everyone under suspicion and should be “resisted completely”.

Other reports from the event are Paul Bernal’s blog entry and Ross Anderson’s contemporaneous notes. Video of the entire event is linked from its web page (links at top right).


4 thoughts on “Web surveillance plans create ‘nation of suspects’

  • Tom Welsh

    It’s often cited, but still as true as ever:

    “There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with”.

    – Ayn Rand, “Atlas Shrugged”

  • Tom Welsh

    It’s often cited, but still as true as ever:

    “There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with”.

    – Ayn Rand, “Atlas Shrugged”

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