- Proposals for extension of secret courts to go ahead
- Internet and phone suppliers to store details of website visits
- Clegg ‘I will not approve threats to civil liberties’
By
James Slack
18:46 EST, 9 May 2012
|
03:51 EST, 10 May 2012
Controversial ‘Big Brother’ plans to store details of everyone’s email, Facebook, text and internet use will be passed into law despite a furious backlash from privacy groups.
And proposals for a massive extension of secret courts are to go ahead, although they will be limited to cases involving national security.
Ministers faced a storm of protest last month when it emerged that internet and phone companies would be made to store details of website visits, along with use of Skype and even online games consoles.
More information: The Home Office yesterday insisted it was forging
ahead with the so-called ‘snoopers’ charter’, which the police and
security officials insist is vital to protect national security
But the Home Office yesterday insisted it was forging ahead with the so-called ‘snoopers’ charter’, which the police and security officials insist is vital to protect national security.
They say that terrorists and paedophiles can exploit new technology to hatch plots or swap vile images, and the authorities currently have no coverage of a quarter of all communications data.
Nick Clegg has insisted that he will not approve anything which threatens civil liberties.
Ministers know they face a huge battle to persuade sceptical Coalition MPs to support the plan – originally proposed by Labour, then ditched.
Security officials point out they only want to be able to find out when a call was made and to whom – not what was said. The Bill will normally restrict access to the most sensitive types of data to the police, emergency services and intelligence agencies.
Concerned: Nick Clegg has insisted that he will not approve anything which threatens civil liberties
Civil rights campaigners reacted with fury to the inclusion in the Queen’s Speech of legislation to allow more court hearings to be held behind closed doors, saying it represents a dangerous retreat from the long-held British principle that justice must be seen to be done.
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke is expected to have to retreat further on his original proposals before a Bill is published in full.
Yesterday, the Government said there would be a ‘limited use of closed proceedings, to hear a greater range of evidence in national security cases’.
That narrowed the terms of draft legislation, which had suggested that ministers would be able to order closed court hearings in any civil case they felt threatened the ‘public interest’.
But critics expressed deep concern that rather than moving to a White Paper setting out policy details, the proposals will be pushed through Parliament in this session in a Justice and Security Bill.
The Daily Mail has led criticism of Government plans to allow so-called ‘closed material procedures’, in which cases are conducted behind closed doors, in any civil or inquest hearing.
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The KGB and Stasi would be proud of this lot in parliament!
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George Orwell was right. He just got the year wrong.
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…….APPARENTLY……….THIS PROPOSAL……FOR SOME PECULIAR REASON……..IS NOT CONTRARY TO OUR HUMAN RIGHTS……TO SOME PRIVACY……..WOULD HAVE THOUGHT……THAT THE MEDIA…..WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTRAGED AT THE OPPRESSION OF IT ALL……AND WOULD HAVE VOICED IT ON OUR BEHALF……WITH BANNER HEADLINES…..UNTIL SUCH TIMES……..AS IT REACHED THE LONG GRASS…….
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I left facebook exactly 3 weeks ago. Feels good, i CAN live without it you know…it’s just DM’s site which is a bit of a problem….every time i make a comment about the NWO i feel guilty knowing i could be in prison in a couple of weeks for talking about it. What future is left. One without tele, internet and radio?? After all i’ve heard they can spy on us through television, laptop and radio waves as well. I’m doomed then.
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…..DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MP……AND HIS NOCTURNAL VISITS…..TO NELLIE THE SHEEP…………..NO ……….AND YOU WON’T EITHER………IT WOULD BE DEEMED……NOT TO BE IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST…….HAVE YOU SEEN FRED LATELY……OR MIKE…..OR MARY…….NO……APPARENTLY…….THEY WERE PICKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT…….NO CHARGES WERE LAID…..THEY WENT ON TRIAL LAST WEEK……IN SECRET…….THEY WERE FOUND GUILTY……NO THEY CAN’T APPEAL AS THEY NEVER HEARD THE EVIDENCE……STRANGE ONE THAT………NO WONDER LIZ AND PHIL ARE DISAPPOINTED……AT HOW OUR COUNTRY HAS TURNED OUT…
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…..THIS IS TANTAMOUNT TO SOUNDING……THE LAST POST…..ON OUR PRIVACY………..TIME TO MAN THE BARRICADES………..
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The thin end of the wedge to privacy and democracy.
Nothing to hide and everything to take from you – only a fool would agree to this!
Police State!
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Number 1 – Clegg has about as much sway as I do. Number 2 – if you think they are not already doing this on some level you are sadly mistaken!
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We gave the World the best of our democracy, justice, law order, sense of fair play, our poets, writers, engineers, our best education system, etc. what have we got in return Communism, Stastism and any other ism going. Don’t give up your Freedom Liberty, think outside of the box, as a well known Book says
Human Race get off your Knees, ( Author, I hope you don’t mind me using the quote), it is needed now.
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I wish that you would sort out your website with regards to comments DM. It’s bad enough with all your printing errors.
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