To say there’s been a bit of a national media storm late this week in relation to the coalition Government’s Data Communications Bill would be something of an understatement!
Having issued the new Bill, Home Secretary Theresa May told BBC Breakfast: “It’s not about the content, it’s not about reading people’s e-mails or listening to their telephone calls. This is purely about the ‘who, when and where’ of communications and ensuring we catch criminals and stop terrorists.”
Scripting in The Times, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe stated that the police having greater powers to access data was essential in waging a “total war on crime”. The former Merseyside Police chief constable also warned that the police risked losing the fight against crime unless MPs pass a law enabling them to collect more communications data.
“Put simply, the police service needs access to this information,” said the Met’s leader, “to keep up with the criminals who bring so much harm to victims and our society.”
Opposition to the Bill
However, not everyone’s in favour of the Data Communications Bill (which has already been dubbed a ‘Snoopers’ Charter’ by some of those who oppose its contents).
Headed up by director Nick Pickles, the Big Brother Watch campaigning group has stressed: “Aside from the blatant spin of announcing unprecedented spying powers during the Prime Minister’s testimony to The Leveson Inquiry, the Home Office is trying to hide an unprecedented level of surveillance of the entire population behind a miniscule concession of removing the ability to access communications data from local councils. This policy goes against the Coalition Agreement, against Conservative Party pre-election policy and is fundamentally an illiberal, intrusive boondoggle that will do little to improve national security and do everything to turn us into a nation of suspects.”
Just so you know, a ‘boondoggle’ is a scheme that’s deemed to waste both time and money…
Shami Chakrabarti’s Liberty organisation has stated: “The Data Communications Bill will turn a nation of citizens into a nation of suspects. It won’t matter if you have never got so much as a speeding fine, personal information about you will be stored just in case it may prove useful one day. To put in another way, would you be happy if the police popped by tomorrow to install a CCTV camera in your living room just in case they one day suspect you have committed a crime? Crime prevention arguments must not unquestionably trump the privacy of law-abiding citizens.”
Is it a Major Minus then?
We can safely assume that Big Brother Watch and Liberty would call the Data Communications Bill a Major Minus… which just happens to be a great track by stadium and arena rockers Coldplay on the band’s latest album Mylo Xyloto.
In the context of the Bill, the lyrics are so apt as well… “We got one eye watching you, And one eye on what to do, So be careful who it is you’re talking to… They got one eye watching you, One on what to do, So be careful what it is you’re trying to do… And be careful when you’re walking into view… Just be careful when you’re walking into view…”
Congratulations to Chris Martin (vocals), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass) and Will Champion (drums and backing vocals). On the pulse yet again.
