You scared? The UK Government wants you to be.

[Allet Klar Chefs]

Emergency phone and internet data laws to be passed

Emergency powers to ensure police and security services can continue to access phone and internet records are being rushed through Parliament.

Prime Minister David Cameron has secured the backing of all three main parties for the highly unusual move.

He said urgent action was needed to protect the public from "criminals and terrorists" after the European Court of Justice struck down existing powers.

But civil liberties campaigners have warned it will invade people's privacy.

Mr Cameron defended the move in a joint news conference with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, saying it was about maintaining existing capabilities - not introducing new snooping laws.

But he also said he had reached an agreement with Labour leader Ed Miliband for a wider review of the surveillance powers needed by the security services, to report after the next election.

More info and full story here

In short, the UK government has been told that its current laws are unacceptable. So it's going to just redraft them and then go for the same thing again, but reinforcing the legitimacy of these tactics in the new law itself, Because Terrorism. This is not only a fuck you to the public, it's a fuck you to the CJEU, which is there to protect citizens' rights across Europe. Expect this to keep happening.

What to do about this, as a citizen? I have no idea. My opinion is "fuck em", but that isn't productive in and of itself.

You got spying opinions? Go on ahead.

[European Socialist Republic]

What's the point if the ECJ will just strike it down again?

[Ifreann]

What's the point if the ECJ will just strike it down again?

Presumably they're including a No-Strike-Downs clause this time around.

[Ostroeuropa]

The UK government is full of shitbergs lately.
It's no suprise they want to monitor the population, I expect they know that if citizens could get away with it they'd already be conspiring in revolution.

[New Tyran]

They've been doing this for years anyway. I have nothing to hide so go ahead and tap into my phone and emails.

[Adab]

I, for one, welcome the UK Internet overlords, because I'm Indonesian and I'm not gonna be affected by this. No, I'm not serious.

Seriously, they should just forget this. Has Cameron ever thought about how he, as just another commoner living in some city lost in Britain, would feel if everything he spoke about on the phone or searched on the Internet could become known to the authorities?

The ECJ will probably strike it down again.

[Libertarian Sector]

If consumption is the carrot of general passivity, then mass surveillance (combined with the state's monopoly on violence) is the stick. The phantom of terrorism is being bolstered by recent events in the middle-east, so don't expect the government to back down any time soon.

Mass surveillance must end. Every demand is a revolutionary demand.

[European Socialist Republic]

What's the point if the ECJ will just strike it down again?

Presumably they're including a No-Strike-Downs clause this time around.

What? Why would that have any effect on the ECJ's decision?

[United Kingdom of Kent]

Seems a important power for the Police and Security forces in our Kingdom to have at their disposal, the ability to access internet and phone records have helped in the closure of numerous crimes, and if you don't break the law why even care?

Annoys me a court in Europe is a able to influence our legislation in such a way.

[Ostroeuropa]

Seems a important power for the Police and Security forces in our Kingdom to have at their disposal, the ability to access internet and phone records have helped in the closure of numerous crimes, and if you don't break the law why even care?

Annoys me a court in Europe is a able to influence our legislation in such a way.

Why can't they just get a warrant. Privacy is important.
Because, get this, some things are socially unacceptable even if they aren't lawbreaking, and the government is kind of shit at keeping secrets.


Imagine it as this guy paid to follow you around.
He constantly leers at you and if you complain he'll just say
"Why do you care? Got something to hide?"
And continues following you. Watching you. All the time.

You're fine with that are you?

[New Aerios]

State told they have too much power, so they try to gain more power. Surprise, surprise. The UK government strikes again. All hail the glorious defenders of freedom and democracy!

[The Vekta-Helghast Empire]

Has Cameron ever thought about how he, as just another commoner living in some city lost in Britain, would feel if everything he spoke about on the phone or searched on the Internet could become known to the authorities?

The ECJ will probably strike it down again.

Of course he hasn't thought about it. He's a tory.

[Ifreann]

Presumably they're including a No-Strike-Downs clause this time around.

What? Why would that have any effect on the ECJ's decision?

Because the law is like a schoolyard game, and I'm making a joke.

[New Aerios]

Has Cameron ever thought about how he, as just another commoner living in some city lost in Britain, would feel if everything he spoke about on the phone or searched on the Internet could become known to the authorities?

The ECJ will probably strike it down again.

Of course he hasn't thought about it. He's a tory.

A Tory with the full support of Labour and the Lib Dems. The problem is with the state in general.

[European Socialist Republic]

What? Why would that have any effect on the ECJ's decision?

Because the law is like a schoolyard game, and I'm making a joke.

Jokes often don't work on the internet. Sadly.
Anyway, it'll probably end with the ebul EU infringing upon Britain's national sovereignty and striking down this law.

[Islamic Cilicia]

Does UKIP support this?

[The Vekta-Helghast Empire]

Of course he hasn't thought about it. He's a tory.

A Tory with the full support of Labour and the Lib Dems. The problem is with the state in general.

The parties have become some deformed mush now. There's no real opposition, they just vote against bills because they're upset about not getting elected themselves. They might as well all be the same party.

[United Kingdom of Kent]

Seems a important power for the Police and Security forces in our Kingdom to have at their disposal, the ability to access internet and phone records have helped in the closure of numerous crimes, and if you don't break the law why even care?

Annoys me a court in Europe is a able to influence our legislation in such a way.

Why can't they just get a warrant. Privacy is important.
Because, get this, some things are socially unacceptable even if they aren't lawbreaking, and the government is kind of shit at keeping secrets.


Imagine it as this guy paid to follow you around.
He constantly leers at you and if you complain he'll just say
"Why do you care? Got something to hide?"
And continues following you. Watching you. All the time.

You're fine with that are you?

How does having a warrant or not make a difference in your view? The government doesn't have the man power to have someone sitting there surveying a live internet and phone feed this law refers to accessing a 'individuals' records when it's required in a investigation.

Not like I'm ever going to meet the guy, I personally don't look at anything that weird so don't really have personal experience, but as long as it wasn't illegal he would just have his laugh and carry on so I wouldn't mind really.

[Minoa]

"Give me privacy or make me vanish." <-- The sternly worded ultimatum that I tweeted to Cameron today.

I see a good reason for the EU. If Britain leaves the EU, I will leave Britain.

Additionally, I do not have to use the Internet.

[European Socialist Republic]

Does UKIP support this?

Ukip will do whatever earns them the most votes.

[Maineiacs]

Why is the British government emulating the worst possible aspects of the U.S. government? What's next, a shutdown over the budget? Is Parliament going to refuse to govern until there's a new PM? How about a faction in government who doesn't think there should be a government? Of all the nations in the world, why did you have to start emulating us? Surely, there are better role models, like Somalia, perhaps?

[Ifreann]

Because the law is like a schoolyard game, and I'm making a joke.

Jokes often don't work on the internet. Sadly.

No, they do. I've told a few jokes in my day.

Anyway, it'll probably end with the ebul EU infringing upon Britain's national sovereignty and striking down this law.

The EU can't do anything to Britain that Britain hasn't given them the power to do, so their national sovereignty remains perfectly intact.

[Sodvivon]

My government (America) Won't TELL US ANYTHING!

[Ostroeuropa]

"Give me privacy or make me vanish." <-- The sternly worded ultimatum that I tweeted to Cameron today.

I see a good reason for the EU. If Britain leaves the EU, I will leave Britain.

Additionally, I do not have to use the Internet.

I'd seriously consider it too.
I imagine a small exodus might occur, probably to Germany.
Because Germany is a pretty cool country that doesn't afraid of anything.

[United Kingdom of Kent]

Does UKIP support this?

Not sure about the law itself, but they would be opposed entirely to this coming from a EU court and as a infringement on our national courts, legislative system and standing legislation.