UK government to moniter Email and web use....

[angelkitty]

Exactly Albert, currently there is nothing legal that can be done with any information that has been gathered by hidden means. If that exists. I'm not going to do the whole tin foil hat conspiracy theory. However, you only have to look at the previous plans banded about by the last two governents to see that there are elements (the entire Labour paranoia machine, Theresa May) that have no concept of the internet and view it as some sort of bogey man. 'The internet made them do it!' Failing to realise that the internet is not some sort of omnipotent creature.

Look at the whole Net Nanny issue, where all 'adult' content was going to be made opt in only. Look at the Extreme Porn Laws, and the issues that they are currently throwing up. All these things are incredibly subjective. What for one person is a fun thing to do on a Sunday afternoon in the privacy of their own home, is for another deeply offensive.

Nothing is achieved by making everyone a suspect.

Also, please note that the UK hasn't had freedom of speech for that long (only since 1998), and it could be argued that with the various censorship, libel, and incitement laws, we don't have it now.

I always get a bit eye-roll when people start bleating about freedom of speech. we don't have a codified constitution, so it wasn't until the UK adopted the Human Rights Act that it was set in stone that people had a right to free speech. To me, this isn't Just a free speech thing, this is also about having a right to privacy, which as far as I am aware, has always been a right in this country.

The idea that any government can monitor the private communications of its citizens blows this right to privacy to hell, and effectively creates Thought Police. As far as I'm aware, everyone has a freedom to think.

It's all getting very Minority Report, and I'm rather glad that it appears to have been shelved. I've always disliked Theresa May, and her constant attempts at policing the internet (which at best should be subject to international laws, like international waters are) border on the obsessive and farcical!

[Cockney Charmer]

Dont kid yourselves that they have not been monitoring this for year already....they are just trying to make it law

[Meef]

I'm not sure if this frightens me or excites me. I kind of always had this 1984 thing in the back of my head that we would get to this point. I think I'm declaring April paranoia month and keep my eyes on that toaster. I knew it was doing more than making toast!http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...veillance.html

[squinky]

I know that both Governments American and UK know A LOT about us as when flew the second time flew to San Fran just after three months since the time before? I was taken to a seperate room at Immigration and quizzed about my rings on my left finger, which hadnt been able to get off due to swelling you get during long haul flights!! Told them that, showed them my right index finger where hadnt got the ring off either and gave them Jasons details as we were going to live together for a while before possibly making it legal. They knew I had a mastercard in my suitcase and a debit card in my handbag with some cash but asked why hadnt brought any travellers cheques, told them cos I didnt need them as cost more to cash and more hassle to as there wasnt an actual bank where was going to be so would use actual cards or cash, which didnt hold much water!!

I was then asked about my involvement with the UK Anti Nazi League, and was like errrr what??? I was told had been seen 'liasoning with a known member' I was like, ok I knew her from a rock club we all used to go to and I worked at but we never talked about that seriously! I mean I asked her about it but I wouldnt ever get involved as am more peaceful protest than anything that way!! "Peaceful protest?? " yeah like signing petitions and organised marches in conjunction with the police.

I was let go after a huge long wait where was more worried was going to miss the flight and then told not to get married! Yeah, right ...Still you dont mess with scary official guys with guns!! I do think I did pretty well considering had been up for 26hrs by that point and had another 6hrs flight while very unnerved to look forward to!!