Wow...

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Ghost
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Wow...

Post by Ghost » Sun Apr 01, 2012 6:46 pm

I'm finding it hard to believe that something like this is allowed to pass. I'm now starting to realize why certain UK users have been ramping up their personal security.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17576745

I seriously hope that this is stopped somehow, but from the tone of the article it doesn't sound good. Any UK users here want to share their take on this thing? I would like to think that if something like this ever passed in the USA, it would be met with such public anger that it would be repealed instantly, but these days people here would probably just sigh and accept it.
"A man's greatest treasures are his illusions."

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mib
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Re: Wow...

Post by mib » Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:31 am

I just read that too.

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Re: Wow...

Post by Neurotic Anomaly » Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:19 am

Damn son.

I remember once thinking how cool of a place the UK would be to go and visit, maybe live, seems I'm proving myself wrong time and time again. I'll keep my America.
שד ציד

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kunoichi
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Re: Wow...

Post by kunoichi » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:11 pm

I think we all know that we are already being monitored.
I don't believe that a law will change things. They can spy our online actions any fucking time they want. We just have to be considered as "suspects" and "dangerous" for the government.
I think I remember Interpol officially declaring they monitor the online actions of whoever is considered to be suspicious for "terrorism".
Anyway, thing is the shit is getting worse and worse. Not only for internet freedom, but also for freedom in general.
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Illusion
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Re: Wow...

Post by Illusion » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:58 pm

Just watch this space - this has had no media coverage, and wont. In fact, I find it amusing that there has been hysteria over a petrol strike that may or may not happen (it wont now) - petrol stations have ran dry etc, whilst this has sneaked in the back door.

If by some weird stroke of luck, this is covered in the mainstream media again - it will be "Recent Legislation that has allowed the monitoring of communications was used to capture terror suspects...", then it will be "Recent Legislation that has... child pornographers".. it will only be in the media regarding evil, "common enemies" as such. However, what wont be publicised is the fact this will be used against file sharers, people posting idiotic/libelous comments on social network sites.. and slowly it will just become another everyday tool in the arsenal of abused legislation in the UK. It happened before with legislation that allowed "snooping" to a degree, and councils were found to be using this just to work out if people were using their neighbours bins..

I am far from a conspiracy theorist, but if the UK "powers that be" have demonstrated anything to the people who reside here - it's one thing: you cannot trust them to use any such legislation wisely, nor can you trust them with it in general. For the cases that require such legislation (terrorism, child porn) - the power has ALWAYS been there.

Guess I better go into hiding for a few months after posting that.. Heil Big Brother!

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Freedom is Slavery,
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kunoichi wrote:I think we all know that we are already being monitored.
I don't believe that a law will change things. They can spy our online actions any fucking time they want. We just have to be considered as "suspects" and "dangerous" for the government.
I think I remember Interpol officially declaring they monitor the online actions of whoever is considered to be suspicious for "terrorism".
Anyway, thing is the shit is getting worse and worse. Not only for internet freedom, but also for freedom in general.
I think I remember the Interpol story too, if not; then there was a documentary on UK television that showed a facility they had (in Paris?) where they monitored P2P networks, internet chatter and more.

It's nothing new, GCHQ in the UK has had similar abilities for a long time - and if you're from the USA and believe you're safe - I think you're fooling yourself. In the UK version of Wired this month there is a huge article about the capabilities of Homeland Security/NSA in the US, and just how many facilities they have monitoring communications; as well as some desert facility that they are currently building. Plus, if you think a public, mainstream magazine that sells hundreds of thousands of copies is going to have a full knowledge of the capabilities then you're an idiot. The full of extent of their capabilities is bound to be much more impressive.

However yes, I'm one of the UK members and have taken to using a VPN quite a lot recently. I've began using hushmail for bits and pieces - and the encryption. I'm using services that will, admittedly, cave under any legal pressure - but what the hell? I actually have zero to hide, I only like to ensure that I'm a pain in the ass for anyone who thinks I truly have something to hide. Think of it as a gentle little game of cat and mouse..

I remember last time this kind of crap was spoken; there were a group of people planning on developing some software, and I think even malware, to just generate pointless internet traffic - to ensure an "optimal" signal-to-noise ratio :) Similar plans with encryption packages..
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Ghost
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Re: Wow...

Post by Ghost » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:28 pm

Illusion wrote:and if you're from the USA and believe you're safe - I think you're fooling yourself.
There is a lot more truth in this than a US citizen might initially think. Between the Patriot Act and the National Defense Authorization Act, certain law enforcement agencies as well as the military are able to suspend certain rights for as long as they see fit. Of course, they'll do it by calling you a terrorist first, but that's all it takes for them to legally be able to hold you indefinitely without right to a trial, lawyer, or even so much as a phone call. Does that sound like a government that would give half a damn about snooping in on private phone conversations, browsing history, emails, ect? Like i said - so long as they call you a "suspected terrorist" first, they have the legal authority to do pretty much whatever they want with you.
Illusion wrote:However yes, I'm one of the UK members and have taken to using a VPN quite a lot recently. I've began using hushmail for bits and pieces - and the encryption. I'm using services that will, admittedly, cave under any legal pressure - but what the hell? I actually have zero to hide, I only like to ensure that I'm a pain in the ass for anyone who thinks I truly have something to hide. Think of it as a gentle little game of cat and mouse..
This! A million times this! Not because we have anything to hide, but because others have no business knowing all about our business in the first place. They want to snoop around through my emails? fine, but no need to make it easy for them.
"A man's greatest treasures are his illusions."

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Re: Wow...

Post by Lucian Neo » Wed Apr 04, 2012 2:39 am

You know. One day, if this keeps progressing, There will be no freedom. "Free" life, will be the same as a prison. you will be told when and where you are allowed to take a shit, and what you can and can't look up on the internet. I think we need to Rebel. Who's with me?
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Illusion
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Re: Wow...

Post by Illusion » Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:08 am

Common sense prevailed for once. The act didn't pass through in the end as, although the act was retarded, the politicians turned out to be as spineless as expected and do a complete U-Turn when it actually got news coverage.

Funny, eh? The acts that are equally as moronic don't generally get news coverage, and these are generally passed without any major problems.. :roll:
"I'm not worried about this because I am too strong, too good, too intelligent, but I want to say to the others 'don't follow the stupid'."

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