Every email, phone call and website visit is to be recorded and stored after the UK Government has revived controversial Big Brother snooping plans
The information will include who is contacting whom, when and where and which websites are visited, but not the content of the conversations or messages, and the argument is that such information is needed to tackle crime or terrorism.
The major problem with such legislation and actions is that politicians and other officials just cannot be trusted to use such laws solely for the purpose for which they were intended, as happened with previous ‘anti-terrorism’ measures, these being used as a ‘pretext’ for such things as video surveillance of old ladies putting out wheelie bins on the wrong day, stop and search etc.
They may say that the content of emails won’t be recorded or viewed, but who for one moment believes it? As they say: How do you tell if politicians are not telling the truth? Their lips move.
There are numerous encryption programs already available and maybe it is time to start using them. They may not be 100% uncrackable (except Blackberry), but it will make life a bit more difficult for the unwarranted snoopers.
The vast majority of people have nothing to hide, but that is not the point. It is more the fact that one’s privacy can, or is, being violated and, highly likely, for no good reason.