Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...computer-users

According to The Telegraph the Government is expected to grant these powers.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I feel sorry for the telecomms companies that will now have to dedicate staff and space to retaining all that data :(

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I am not actually sure how this differs to what they already collect? I suspect this is just allowing police faster access to it.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

We're going to see more of this. Thanks to either misguided foreign policy amongst other things (some quite possibly sinister) our rights and freedoms are going to be eroded in one way or another. Of course it'll all be dressed up as being for the greater good but you have to ask what lies behind all that. Why are we being encouraged to entrust our whole lives to an internet which patently isn't secure when so many of us don't have the slightest clue how to protect ourselves properly? Why is it becoming increasingly hard to avoid having our personal information held on computers all over the place? We're being ever more closely scrutinised and forced into a situation where our lives can effectively be examined and, if necessary, shut down at the press of a button somewhere.

For me there are two possibilities and they're not mutually exclusive. This is all the result of pure negligence and idiocy on the part of our glorious leaders around the globe or these people have collectively come to realise that in order to have a chance of protecting themselves (the chosen few) and their livelihoods from what I believe is inevitable global turmoil, they're setting us up to be controlled. What better way to control people than by leading them into a digital existence in which all the tools they need to run their lives can be shut off in an instant?

I've never been a great conspiracy theorist but increasingly over the years I've looked at what's been/being allowed to happen and find it hard to put it all down to ineptitude, especially when it's clear that with growing pressure on resources and increasing population there's going to be less to go around and the rich/powerful are not going to want to see their privileged existence eroded.

Not long ago I'd have viewed the above as science fiction but I'm fast coming to the conclusion that this is all part of a plan in which global turmoil (however it results) is being used and even created in order to bring it to fruition.

Maybe I'm still suffering the effects of anaesthesia... :shrug: :erm:

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

What concerns me about any of these snooping powers is the abuse: We've already seen RIPA anti-terrorism laws used by local councils to prosecute over dog poo and chase council tax non-payers. Unless there are some serious safeguards like a court order being needed to access records I can see this being abused as well.

The road to hell is truely paved in good intentions.:(

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Whatever safeguards are created, how long before they are gradually eroded by hook or by crook? There will always be the opportunity for govts. to use, even engineer, whatever pretext they like in order to justify moving the goalposts and I don't see them being moved to our benefit.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Then maybe we should take to social media to complain and actually go out and protest in person?

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

If there was a 'revolution' does anyone think those who assumed power in whatever form that might be would be any better than those they replaced? Power always seems to corrupt, it's a basic human trait isn't it?... :shrug:

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

No .. You are just a flapper and worry too much ... get out more or get a hobby that might help distract you ..


Anyway .. i used to feel quite strongly about this subject .Changed my tack now and don't really care one way or another.i don't sell kids, heroin or machine guns so i have no concearn who or what intercepts anything i do online.i have better things to divert my attention too rather than worrying that someone might be reading my e-mails or viewing my browsing history.i could if i wanted to use my VPN 247 anyway and neither VM or anyone else would know what i was up to ;);)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

As has been stated before, it's not just the traffic that is monitored, but the traffic methods and patterns - for instance, someone using VPN would get more attention.... ;)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Hugh they can be aware or as un-aware as they like when it comes to a VPN .. it aint illegal to use one and they can attempt to sniff about it as much as they want. that's as far as they would get. i use a VPN that's base is in germany with access to many other locations via their network.. i hardly use it tbh but they are as cheap as chips these days so i have it just because i can :D:D a bit like my fishing rod and my collection of syberian hamster photos . i don't need or even require them but i have them just because i can ;)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I remember reading a book about this with a bunch of farm animals. As I recall it ended pretty well for all of them.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Posting here a few times a day is my hobby. I have plenty of other, more pressing things to worry about believe me... ;)

This measure doesn't bother me particularly but I do think it's just another small part of a slippery slope we're on one way or the other, mainly as a result of what I see as Govt. ineptitude or worse. I'm really not in a spin about this but I am pessimistic about the future. Time will tell if I'm right eh?... :)





---------- Post added at 15:54 ---------- Previous post was at 15:53 ----------

That's fiction for you. ;)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I think you're just paranoid.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Welcome to my World....

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Of course it may just be a function of age... ;)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I'm of the same opinion. I think that it is definitely happening in Europe. :(

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Why do they need access to everyone is what I want answered or are we all just assumed to be future criminals and terrorists seems very heavy handed to me and difficult and costly to implement, I'm sure the cost will be passed onto us another reason not to be supportive. I am all for the police having the powers necessary to deal with criminals and terrorists but it must be selective not broadly based like this. Over the last few decades many of the old rights we held value too have been eroded and reduced some to the point of being little more then phrases thrown around but the blame lies as much with us as the one's that have eroded them as we let them do it and get away with it.

Whilst I don't fully agree with you Osem it's a fact that there has been a push (for want of a better term) to get us all into and more reliant on the digital world in the last decade and more and more things are progressing in that direction. We can only hope those in power in the future will be better then those in the past time will tell I suppose.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Well the way I see it is that with more people competing for fewer resources and becoming increasingly desperate to do so, the rich and powerful aren't going to want to see their lifestyles suffer. Right now it may be exclusive developments, gated communities or even private islands but none of those things will be of any protection from hordes of desperate people. No, they'll do whatever they can to protect themselves and those like them in exactly the same way as corporations do when they have politicians in their pockets in order to pursue favourable legislation. I do feel this will be the inevitable outcome of massive population growth and all that comes with it and key to that will be control of the things ordinary people rely upon in order to communicate, organise themselves, travel etc.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I don't think the move to digital is part of any centralised plan. Most people are moving more of their lives online because it offers quite a lot of benefits. I don't think Governments have welcomed this because with the cross-border nature of the Internet, the sheer volume of noise, encryption and the speed of the information Governments have lost some control. These actions from the Government are a misguided attempt for them to regain it.

I also don't think the World is heading for a major crisis. There is always global turmoil but we've already seen quite a lot worse than anything we can see when we look around today. People in the last 100 years have lived though two World Wars and many believed that nuclear apocalypse was inevitable during the Cold War. These problems eventually gave way to different ones and these ones will eventually go away to be replaced by something else.

Even with ISIS and mass Immigration into Europe the World today is largely safer, richer and healthier than almost any point in history. Only recent years would come close to beating it. In particular huge advancements have been made in the poorer nations with reducing poverty and child mortality and our experience elsewhere tells us that birth rates decline as those things improve.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I think that's called the optimism of youth as opposed to the cynicism of age but don't worry, one follows the other inevitably... ;)

The fact remains that the pie isn't getting bigger and population is booming so sooner or later something's going to give and it'll be the masses whose lifestyles and freedoms are sacrificed not those of the powerful few. It's always been thus throughout human history.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Actually, with the cost of the means of production falling, and with access to information now much more widespread, things could be different this time.

There were similar portents of doom in the 60s and 70s (over-population, food shortages, raw materials running out, thermonuclear war leading to nuclear winter), that were forecast to happen in the 80s and 90s, but we are all still here and (mostly) surviving.

I would rather be an optimist (even in my late 50s) and fairly happy and be occasionally disappointed, than be a pessimist and always be miserable waiting for something to go badly...

ymmv ;)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Being optimistic is fine as long as there's a plan B for if/when the optimism turns out to have been misplaced. I seem to recall Chamberlain being highly optimistic with his 'promise 'from Hitler and some say had he not been so, the UK would have been far better prepared for what was to come.

If everyone chooses to take an optimistic view of every scenario then nobody's going to be fully prepared when the worst happens. Furthermore being concerned about events tends to galvanise ordinary people into action and that may well be the only way to prevent catastrophe. I'd love to be optimistic about Europe's future but think I'll have to leave that to you.

Oh and btw, don't assume that my posting here represents my real life in some way. This is the only place I post my opinions on such matters and I spend far more time playing 2D pool than predicting doom and gloom so I can't be that pessimistic or I'd be building a bunker, stocking it with provisions and buying gold... ;)

Believe me, being the parent of a severely disabled child requires a great deal of positivity - lose that and you rapidly lose your sanity. I have my moments of doubt and fear but don't think I'm quite there yet... :)

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I am optimistic, but I am not unrealistic - I try to assess situations and work out likely outcomes, and plan for the sub-optimal ones.

Optimism is not blind faith everything will be all right - in my case, it is trying to not let negatives blind me to the possible positives (and vice versa).

There are some here who believe "we're all doomed", no matter the scenario - I couldn't live that way, always assuming (and in some cases, hoping for) the worst....

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

"Some people just want to watch the world burn"

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Well I can only speak for myself and I'm hoping I'm wrong about all this and fully conscious that I might be. But whichever way you cut it, our glorious leaders have made (and are continuing to make) some extremely dubious decisions which many people find inexplicable and don't appear to yield much by way of positives by way of compensation.

Anyway, it's possible to be optimistic about different things to different degrees and at different times. It's also evident that concern and disquiet amongst the populace focusses the minds of those who jobs rely upon their votes and thereby influences policy. Having said that, the public disquiet demonstrated with regard to the war in Iraq didn't prevent our PM from embarking on a strategy, justified by lies, which has ignited a tinderbox. You'd have thought they'd have learned from all that then Afghanistan and Libya came along. In the continued absence of any credible plan to deal with what's now happening, it's hard to be very positive about any of that.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

RIPA has also been used to take pictures of little girls:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vWlxh8lcuBg

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Theresa May forced to backtrack over plan to ‘snoop’ on internet use.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ernet-snooping

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

The backdown appears to just be spin: http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...irmly-in-place

The Guardian article isn't clear but it seems police will also have access to the above which would mean warrantless access to the domains visited but not the specific pages within that site - which seems a pathetic 'climbdown' to me if true.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

She's looking old is our Theresa.

old, miserable, sad and worn out.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

What she needs is a rest Gaz. Let all the air out and give her a good wash :D.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

That's one thing that stands out about her. she looks like she could do with a good wash.

does anyome know how she's keeping at home?
whether she's eating and cleaning herself properly?

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Does our awful Home Secretary just assume that every one in the UK is a potential paedo-terrorist?


Hopefully the Lords will give the Government another kicking.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

It's going ahead: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34715872

Rumors are, via Guardian Live Blog, that they're going to put 'friendly' people in the committee that will examine the bill as that is where it fell apart last time.

Also it's not super clear but it appears the police will be able to see the domains you've visited, when you did so and the applications/protocols you used without a warrant and further investigation will then require a warrant. Quite how they'll access some of this content isn't clear to me, the ISPs can't store a lot of that, nor is the Governments encryption thing clear either.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Dave's just worried that he's not very safe with all the Police he's took away.

I mean the terrorists will go for the big target first right?

London even.
I reckon the odds are better than winning £25 on the lottery.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

The British government are actually quite thick though.
they think that the terrorists thing should be being played by their rules. and that this thing is you'll have to like it or lump it thing to the terrorists. and the terrorists say damn! we'll have to give up being terrorists now because they have the upper hand.

but it's not true.
the British government are actually dumb, soft and a walk over.

it's not about terrorism at all.
but we're too dumb, soft and a walk over to realise it.
we need foreigners to tell us how stupid we are and to wake up and smell the coffee.

and they..
I'll be right back there's some strange looking Bible bashers with sunglasses just got out of Gods blacked out van coming up my drive.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

You've all missed the point here.

All the government are trying to do is save money.

Get the ISP's to collect and keep the data, close GCHQ and save millions having someone else do their job.

ISP's (and mobile companies) then pass the cost on to customers.

The government then makes a "slight" reduction in taxation and says "Look what a good job we're doing!"[COLOR="Silver"]

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

I think everyone has missed the point here.

All the government are trying to do is save money.

Get the ISP's to collect and keep the data, close GCHQ and save millions having someone else do their job.

ISP's (and mobile companies) then pass the cost on to customers.

The government then makes a "slight" reduction in taxation and says "Look what a good job we're doing!"

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Save money?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...edward-snowden



Sadly, I expect this to pass. We all know how Labour loves authoritarianism, so it's unlikely to provide any opposition.

---------- Post added at 18:57 ---------- Previous post was at 18:34 ----------

Theresa May outlines plans to remove civil liberties before terrorists do

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Labour pretty much gave the nod to this today with a fantastic bit of toadying from political chameleon Burnham today.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Their only regret is that they couldn't get it through themselves. Illiberal tools.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Indeed.



BBC News: Giant database plan 'Orwellian'


Ah, Jacqui Smith... yet another one of the many awful Home Secretaries we have suffered.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Fat load of good the Lib Dems will be with their 9 seats as well. The SNP are probably our best hope for a vocal opposition to these plans.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

????

Their plans for mass state intrusion into the lives of Scots makes this look like a kids first surveillance toy. They'll make some noise about it but if it ever came close to killing it they'd fold in no time.

Re: Police seek powers to access browsing history of UK computer users
 

Well it's not like they'll be able to do anything. Seeing the freedom of the Scots squashed by the ganging up of the Tories and Labour is the stuff of their dreams.