U.K. Government Proposes More, Not Less, Electronic Snooping
Two years after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the vast reach of U.S. and U.K. surveillance, the U.S. Congress rolled back the most manifestly unconstitutional element: the bulk collection of domestic phone data.
The U.K. government, on Wednesday, chose to double down instead.
The newly unveiled text of
what critics are calling a proposed “Snooper’s Charter” or “Hacker’s
License” would explicitly authorize the bulk collection of domestic
data, require telecommunications companies to store records of websites
visited by every citizen for 12 months for access by the government,
approve the government’s right to hack into and bug computers and
phones, severely restrict the ability of citizens to raise questions
about secret surveillance warrants or evidence obtained through bulk
surveillance presented in court, and oblige companies to assist in
bypassing encryption.
The U.K. government, on Wednesday, chose to double down instead.
The newly unveiled text of
what critics are calling a proposed “Snooper’s Charter” or “Hacker’s
License” would explicitly authorize the bulk collection of domestic
data, require telecommunications companies to store records of websites
visited by every citizen for 12 months for access by the government,
approve the government’s right to hack into and bug computers and
phones, severely restrict the ability of citizens to raise questions
about secret surveillance warrants or evidence obtained through bulk
surveillance presented in court, and oblige companies to assist in
bypassing encryption.
