UK Civil Liberties - New Labour's Record
Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Extension 2003
In 2000, New Labour passed the Regulation
of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act to destroy electronic privacy.
In 2002 Home Secretary David Blunkett
attempted to change the rules. A last minute backlash caught Blunkett out and he was forced
to drop his planned extension to the Act.
The plans have now re-emerged. Blunkett has this month (September 2003)
announced plans to reintroduce these powers.
Almost any governement agency - including jobcentres, local councils and
the chief inspector of schools - will be allowed access
to records of your telephone and Internet activities.
No wonder they call him "Big" Blunkett.
Liberty director Shami Chakrabati said: "This underlines the uncomfortable fact that the British public are the most spied upon people in the Western world."
We are told by the government not to worry because there will also be "safeguards". How
often have we heard that?
Back to UK Civil Liberties - New Labour's Record -introduction
Email Trevor Mendham
|
