Yeah, not sure if you're in the UK - but anyone who was alive back then remembers exactly what a cunt Tony Blair is. You failed to mention he brought us into the war in Afghanistan, God knows how many people he got killed... and then he was given a knighthood by the royal family to top it all off.
Shit's fucked.
ShangXian
Thank you for sharing this blog, I'm reading these links even if I knew UK was always this privacy hell. This is why I refuse to set foot on UK even for tourist reasons. I know that in 2008 plans were being made to collect data on all phone calls, e-mails, chat room discussions and web-browsing habits as part of the Labour government's Interception Modernisation Programme under Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It was thought likely to require the insertion of thousands of black box probes into the country's computer and telephone networks
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-bulking-up-spying-regime-breakneck-speed/
It's also interesting how even in US some political figures are warning about the potential risks posed by UK's policies. More specifically senator Ron Wyden has written to the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, urging her to provide Congress and the American public with a “frank assessment” of the security risks posed by UK surveillance to the US. More info here:
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366628083/Senator-warns-of-new-UK-surveillance-risks-to-US-citizens-following-Apple-back-door-row
Historically, state surveillance in the United Kingdom began in Victorian Britain. David Vincent observes that the statistical measurement of communication behaviour began with the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840. An early public scandal occurred in the postal espionage crisis of 1844.
https://historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/surveillance-privacy-and-history/
And let's not forget that the use of electronic surveillance by the United Kingdom grew from the development of signal intelligence and pioneering code breaking during World War II. In the post-war period, the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) was formed and participated in programmes such as the Five Eyes collaboration of English-speaking nations, and for those who value a lot privacy "Fice Eyes" should make you sweat even your sweat...
It's funny how the Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled in December 2014 that the legal frameworks in the United Kingdom governing the bulk interception of data and intelligence sharing with agencies in other countries do not breach the European Convention on Human Rights, and are compliant with Articles 8 (right to privacy) and 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Here what these idiots say:
"1. A declaration that the regime governing the soliciting, receiving, storing and transmitting by UK authorities of private communications of individuals located in the UK which have been obtained by US authorities pursuant to Prism and/or Upstream does not contravene Articles 8 or 10 ECHR. 2. A declaration that the regime in respect of interception under ss8(4), 15 and 16 of the Regulation of investigatory Powers Act 2000 does not contravene Articles 8 or 10 ECHR and does not give rise to unlawful discrimination contrary to Article 14, read together with Articles 8 and/or 10 of the ECHR."
They admit they shared data with Prism and Upstream, interesting....
However, the Tribunal stated that one particular aspect of intelligence sharing, the data-sharing arrangement that allowed UK Intelligence services to request data from the US surveillance programmes Prism and Upstream, had been in contravention of human rights law until two paragraphs of additional information, providing details about the procedures and safeguards, were disclosed to the public in December 2014.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/06/gchq-mass-internet-surveillance-unlawful-court-nsa
Knowing that in 2023 after the Online Safety Bill passed, it allowed the government to force online platforms to search through all users' photos, files, and messages, whenever the government ordered, gives me chills.
How I wish what they are doing to the people will bite them in the ass, I want to see if they would like it. Fuck all of them.
Again, thank you for sharing!
TheAnythingGuy
After a talk with my mum yesterday, I'm starting to be convinced that the UK is nowadays less of a fascist state and more of a flawed democracy just like Poland.
Because despite all the mess in its politics with alternatives to big parties that are crumbling and things going tipsy-turvy after Margaret Thatcher's unpopular policies, I would still find myself to be more free living here than the United States in general.
Another thing to say is that I was worried about Karol Nawrocki winning the election because of PiS' controversies, but after reading this Reddit post, I can understand why.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/poland/comments/1l1dwgj/if_youre_wondering_why_nawrocki_became_president/
I hope you understand what I'm saying, while coping with the bad things going on.