Sweeping spy powers rushed through

Submitted by Matthew on 16 July, 2014 - 10:54

David Cameron has unveiled new “emergency” legislation on data surveillance that would compel internet service providers and mobile operators to store information on their customers for up to twelve months so that the police can use it for criminal cases.

The new measures are being rushed through parliament after the European Court of Justice ruled old UK surveillance laws illegal. The court stated they breached the right to privacy and the right to protection of personal date. Ironically, the new laws may formally legalise practices even more intrusive than the old ones. The civil rights organisation Liberty has called them “sweeping surveillance powers”, and warns that they could be used to spy on anyone and everyone.

The legislation makes changes to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act which would allow the state to intercept phone calls, emails and texts. Documents and photos filed in remote storage services like iCloud and Google Drive could also be intercepted and retained.

Cameron has privately consulted with Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders Miliband and Clegg, and the three have agreed to steer the legislation through parliament in just three days. However, some MPs have defied their party leaders to speak out against the rushing through of such consequential changes. Conservative backbencher David Davis has called for more scrutiny, and Labour’s Tom Watson has accused the Prime Minister of arranging a stitch-up.

Not only would the new laws be an infringement of democratic and civil rights, but they would make it harder for our movement and our class to organise against the ruling class and its state. The blacklisting scandals in the construction industry are just one example of how state and corporate surveillance can be used against organised workers.

We can’t leave opposition to this bill to supposedly “libertarian” Tory backbenchers. The labour movement and the left should clearly and vehemently oppose any strengthening of the state’s ability to spy on us.

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