Apple, Google and Whatsapp slam GCHQ over ‘ghost’ eavesdropping plans May 30, 2019 Major tech giants including Apple, Google and Whatsapp have launched a searing criticism of government plans to spy on encrypted messages, warning of “serious threats” to cybersecurity and human rights. In an open letter published today almost 50 companies, civil society groups and policy experts urged GCHQ to drop proposals that would see law enforcement [...]
San Francisco becomes first US city to ban facial recognition software May 15, 2019 San Francisco officials have voted to ban the use of facial recognition technology by local authorities in the latest regulatory clampdown on tech giants. The city’s board of supervisors voted eight to one in favour of the legislation, which would also require police and government departments to submit surveillance technology policies for vetting. Read more: [...]
DEBATE: Should we be concerned about our freedoms as the UK is placed fourth in the Nanny State Index? May 1, 2019 Should we be concerned about our freedoms as the UK is placed fourth in the Nanny State Index? Alex Deane, a Conservative commentator, says YES. The Institute of Economic Affairs is right to criticise the UK by ranking it as one of the least free countries in terms of excessive regulation of alcohol, food, and tobacco. [...]
Another chapter ends in the surreal adventures of Julian Assange April 12, 2019 It is false and defamatory to suggest that Julian Assange lives, or has ever lived, in a basement, cupboard, or under the stairs. The same applies to suggesting that the Wikileaks co-founder filed a lawsuit against Ecuador over laundry, used a skateboard in the Ecuadorian embassy, or failed to look after his cat. And so, [...]
The final frontier: Opportunities for global Britain lie in the stars February 11, 2019 This summer marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first humans landing on the moon on 20 July 1969. It was a defining moment of human achievement that still intrigues and fascinates to this day. First Man, Hollywood’s look at the life of the astronaut Neil Armstrong, played by Ryan Gosling, has just been nominated for [...]
Netflix comes under fire for removing comedy episode critical of Saudi prince January 2, 2019 Netflix has pulled an episode of a comedy show that criticised Saudi Arabia after complaints from the country’s regime, sparking fears over freedom of expression in the kingdom. The online streaming service removed an episode of the standup show Patriot Act in which host Hasan Minhaj criticised Saudi Arabia over the murder of journalist Jamal [...]
US accused of listening in on phone calls of French President Francois Hollande June 24, 2015 The US National Security Agency has been spying on French politicians for at least six years, according to Wikileaks documents published by the French newspaper Liberation. Read more: Germany’s Angela Merkel sends strong warning to US over spy claims Those whose phones have allegedly been tapped include current President Francois Hollande, as well as [...]
US transparency over state surveillance puts British efforts to shame June 1, 2015 Two very different stories are being played out on each side of the Atlantic on the subject of government surveillance. In the United States, intrusive powers permitted under the Patriot Act were allowed to expire on Sunday evening, after the libertarian senator Rand Paul used procedural objections in the US Senate to delay the passage [...]
Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee warns of government “snooper’s charter” after Queen’s Speech May 30, 2015 Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, has warned of encroaching government powers after plans for new legislation to monitor communications was revealed in the Queen's Speech. "There's never been so much at stake" Berners-Lee told an audience at the Southbank's Web We Want Festival, where he urged support for a Magna [...]
MPs are calling for a single new spy law to replace “piecemeal” legislation governing UK’s intelligence agencies March 12, 2015 The Intelligence and Security Committee of MPs is calling for a new law to replace current “piecemeal” legislation governing how the UK's intelligence agencies spy on its citizens. The committee's 140-page review, which was published this morning, argues that while agencies “do not seek to circumvent the law” the current status quo is “unnecessarily complicated [...]