Help stop the Government spying on our every move

[stfcinbmth]

To look at it another - how many lives is it going to save?  Will people complain we should have been doing more to prevent terrorism when a UK 911 strikes?

Seriously, this ain't going to used for spying on TEF members wanting sessions over a bit of porn or to grass you up to your boss for slagging you off...

How many more lives would it save if the cash went to the NHS?

[4D]

Have they said why? I think their time could be better spent, maybe trying to boost the economy of the country - or something like that.

[WR5]

@MacPhlea that's just what "they" want you to think

[Batch]

Seriously, this ain't going to used for spying on TEF members wanting sessions over a bit of porn or to grass you up to your boss for slagging you off...

GCHQ are already all over social networking. Its the next logical step, they'll get their terrorist leads from the TEF in the same way the Adver get their scoops.

PS Shouldn't you be out fixing the corner between the DRS and Town End?

[Samdy Gray]

Google have been doing this sort of thing for years and nobody seems to give a fuck about that.

[reeves4england]

Have they said why? I think their time could be better spent, maybe trying to boost the economy of the country - or something like that.

Finally, somebody asks a sensible question! Interesting that everybody's first thought is "how dare they do this to me" rather than asking what the purpose is and what it'll be used for. MacPhlea is spot on - the reality is it'll have next to no impact on any of our lives, as it's not supposed to be a measure to abuse the rights of your average TEF member.

As Samdy mentioned, Google are doing this and they ARE targeting at you, yet nobody makes a fuss.

[stfcinbmth]

Google have been doing this sort of thing for years and nobody seems to give a fuck about that.

Google aren't using our taxes to do it

[calumscott]

As one in the industry...

1) they're not going to be able to monitor your actual communications in real time, just what/who you interact with.  So if you are busy pinging DMs on twitter to Abu Hamza they might raise an eyebrow.  Berating Vincent Pericard for being shit at football, not so likely.
2) to get to the "what you actually said" level of detail they'll still need a warrant just as they do now.
3) it's not just Google.  Microsoft and a dozen other massive media players know more about you than any government will ever know about you.  They have the cash and the ability to use that data to get more cash.  Governments don't have that driver.
4) it's not just the media outfits.  Every company of any size that you've ever bought something from, got an insurance quote from etc etc know everything down to your inside leg measurement. Well... nearly...

That said, they really do want to be a bit more open about what exactly it means to your average joe.  So explain the process as it would apply to you and me.  Rather than just banging on about catching terrorists - we *know* they want to catch bloody terrorists - explain the new law to the people who pay their wages, explain what they can and can't do in real terms that mean something, relate it to twatter, facebook, the TEF...

[Samdy Gray]

Given the thread title, I thought you were more concerned about the spying than the wasting of your tax money.

[Batch]

So Google are searching through my emails and keeping track of which web sites I visit (as in me personally not some browser somewhere in Swindon)? What bastards.

The safeguards that this information can only be used by the intelligence services for reasons of counter terrorism need to be water tight.

My concern isn't that they'll see anything of interest because they won't, but that the information will eventually be given third parties - perspective employers, for direct marketing, police,  etc.

Far-fetched and ridiculous, maybe, but having seen the national identity card fiasco I'm not 100% convinced it is.

[Ardiles]

Finally, somebody asks a sensible question! Interesting that everybody's first thought is "how dare they do this to me" rather than asking what the purpose is and what it'll be used for.

But I don't care why.  Even if there was a cast iron rationale being provided (and there isn't), I'd still have grave reservations about this.

It's initiatives like this that change relationship between the individual and the state.  Sounds waffly, but I think it's an important point.  If you look the other way when initiatives like this go through, you can't complain when years down the line you realise you are effectively owned by the state...which is basically a collection of other blokes and women who are appointed by politicians who seek re-election every so often.  All a bit tenuous.  If these blokes/women want to have a look at my private correspondence, I'll want a look at theirs.  Fair's fair.

[stfcinbmth]

Given the thread title, I thought you were more concerned about the spying than the wasting of your tax money.

Bit of both Sam

Bearing in mind the shit state of the economy, should they really be wasting money on daft schemes likes this

@calum, thanks for the info

[Saxondale]

Saves me going to london and telling david cameron that I think he's a cunt.  I can just do it here.  And michael gove.  He's a cunt too.  The list could get a bit long though.

They are given a mandate to govern by the people, the people can take that mandate away. 

Ive signed it.

[stfcinbmth]

Far-fetched and ridiculous, maybe, but having seen the national identity card fiasco I'm not 100% convinced it is.

Wasn't there another one, with an NHS computer system?

[Nomoreheroes]

How many more lives would it save if the cash went to the NHS?

1000 terrorists lives no doubt!