Major changes to surveillance laws are to give the Government the power to monitor email exchanges and website visits of every person in the UK.
The new legislation is expected to be announced in the Queen’s Speech next month, despite similar ‘Big Brother’-style laws being rejected six years ago.
Internet companies will be instructed to install hardware enabling GCHQ – the Government’s electronic ‘listening’ agency – to examine ‘on demand’ any phone call made, text message and email sent, and website accessed in ‘real time’.
Civil liberties campaigners expressed fears that this ‘unprecedented’ move will intrude on the lives of British citizens, with the measures being compared to strict controls currently exercised in China and Iran.
The Sunday Times reports, the Home Office has confirmed coalition ministers intend to revive the move towards greater surveillance ‘as soon as parliamentary time allows’.
Ministers claim it is essential that the police and security services have access to such data in order to tackle terrorism and protect the public.
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Under traditional interpretations of American law, that wouldn’t be possible in the USA since the constitution prohibits such general searches (it was an issue in the 18th century). However except for a few nutcases like Ron Paul, American politicians don’t hold that way any more. Bush went along with the theory (expounded by John Yoo, then in charge of giving the government legal advice), and the policy is still followed by Obama, so it seems here to stay. Just say you’ve heard rumors of a terrorist, and the Bill of Rights might never have happened.