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“Live” tracking of British web users’ internet communications has been proposed in a draft paper. The “live” surveillance of British web users’ internet communications has... UK To Institute “Real Time” Surveillance Of Web Users?

“Live” tracking of British web users’ internet communications has been proposed in a draft paper.

The “live” surveillance of British web users’ internet communications has been proposed in a draft technical paper allegedly prepared by the government. If made law, this access would occur via the Investigatory Powers (IP) Act, which includes provisions for the removal of content encryption.

It’s a topsy turvy time for citizens around the world and their rights. Eighty-two kidnapped “Chibok Girls” who were released by the Boko Haram are being held in government detention centers rather than being reunited with their families, allegedly out of concern that they are now sympathizers. Two different arrests have been made in the US for speaking out in public; one woman has been convicted and faces a year in prison for laughing during Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions’ confirmation hearing testimony, and a credentialed member of the press who asked a question of a sitting Cabinet member – which is literally his job – was arrested for “causing a disturbance” in the WV state capitol building.

“Live” tracking of British web users’ internet communications has been proposed in a draft paper.

Erosion of web privacy a growing concern.

While net neutrality is once again in the spotlight in the US thanks to comments from Trump, the UK is getting in on the “you don’t need your rights” fun with a proposed bill to initiate “real time surveillance” of internet users. Internet service providers and cellular providers would be required to hand over customers’ internet behavior on demand and in some cases, within a day. But it somehow gets worse.

Not only does this leaked information state that ISPs are also to remove encryption in communications, they are also to follow these guidelines without informing the customer. Some members of government have openly called out products like WhatsApp and explicitly stated that the end-to-end encryption needs to be stripped away in order to stop terrorism. Your encrypted messages can be read, your internet use tracked, and all of it turned over to the government upon request, but you’re not to know about it.

In the meantime, supporters have reminded the public that agreeing to the terms and conditions of many of our favorite websites and apps already strips you of much of your privacy, so government gathering of your activity is barely any different. The ISPs together under their collective have yet to respond to the drafted proposal, but are considering their words carefully.

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