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Democracy, wherefore art thou?

by Bill Hely on February 7, 2010 · 1 comment

First the UK government announces it is going to record and store everything about everything you do, then Australia reveals its Great (Chinese-like) Firewall plans, and now it’s the Yanks’ turn.

Back in November last year I published an article entitled “Right to Privacy? Hah!“ The opening paragraph went like this:

“This is a story about something positively obscene that is occurring in the United Kingdom. But if you think something similar, to some degree or other, isn’t planned for you right now, wherever you are, then dream on — be happy in your ignorance.”

Well, it didn’t take long for me to be proved right about the imminent spread to other nations of this insidious Big Brother disease.

It’s not really a new idea by the US overlords. It’s been on the back-burner for several years, amazingly without receiving much media attention. I suspect that most reporters just didn’t know what the bureaucrats were talking about when they mumbled “blah blah data retention blah blah”.

I doubt it would come as a surprise to anyone that the American alphabet agencies have become a law unto themselves in covertly practicing pretty much complete disregard for the communications privacy of individuals. The main difference now seems to be that they wish to enshrine into law their right to know all about everything you do online.

Making the ISP responsible

Like the UK, American law enforcement led by the FBI is pushing to force Internet Service Providers to record all of their customers’ online movements and to retain that data for up to two years.

This is inevitably going to be a cost on the ISP, and guess who they’ll be passing that cost on to!

Previous revelations along these lines have all been a bit vague, but just days ago FBI Director Robert Mueller made it plain that he wants all ISPs to keep complete records of your online activity. The FBI is supported in this quest by Homeland Security and all State computer crime investigators.

But unlike the UK, the FBI is not requesting that content (such as the actual body text of e-mails) be recorded. For now they just want data on your movements from site to site. Emphasis on “for now” — ever known a government to be satisfied with its current level of intrusion into your life? There’ll be creep, and you know it.

Of course a lot of complacent citizens will be quite happy to accept that whatever an agency such as the FBI does will be in the best interests of themselves and their fellow Americans. If you’re one of those people then perhaps you need a reality check, so read this.

Who’s next?

Oh, and if your country hasn’t been mentioned yet, be aware that the International Association of Chiefs of Police are right behind such moves. Check out this map for an idea of the extent of the reach of the IACP (mouse over the countries ).

Legitimate investigation is one thing, but we must all be on constant alert for unwarranted levels of bureaucratic intrusion. If law enforcement really needs further investigative powers then we must insist that they declare their full intentions openly and publicly and with plenty of time for public debate. Obfuscation with techno-speak (“data retention”) that is beyond the understanding of a large section of the community is simply not acceptable.

What do you think? Do you believe this is really about the familiar smokescreen of “combating child pornography”?

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1 SISSY BEARD February 8, 2010 at 12:12 pm: Bill I first heard of “One World Order” twenty years ago, from a neighbour. Whom I considered to be slightly off-center, at the time however, I certainly have changed my mind over the years. We are River/Water RICH in this provience, however, California, which sits just three States to the south of us, is almost a desert, burning up continually from lack of fresh sweet water. Therefor, is it any wonder they want what we have……however, like everything else they do not wish to pay for it, just take, and, it would not matter if our farms, ir households went dry, to them, it is like their right…..
And, I am afraid our politions are in bed with them, as there are a number of people trying to get a large hunk of land along the U.S./ Cad. border “re-defined” as a “National Park” and that ment all the local farmers who use the area as “summer pasture” would no longer be able to do so, also alot more rules and regulations prohibiting people from going into this area would be in play as well. Needless to say, it was voted down, but, they are still trying for it, oh, I forgot to mention, they (the Yankees) want to dam-up the River running thru this area, which mans it would back-up into Canada, and flood all the bottom land for miles. The One Saving Grace we have there is the Native Indians own, and live on that land and they are not about to give it up — thank god for that!!!
I suppose it is going to happen eventually, that the U.S. will have their way about things, but, hopefully I will be dead by then, as I would not want to live, to see what they’d do with our lands.
I have no idea just what anyone in other lands, (like you), think of the b.s. that was 9/11 …… but, I saw the pictures, etc. (oh so convenently) taken by a camera-man, who just happened to be out on a balcony trying out his camera, and just happened to be pointing it at the World Trade Centre…….well, I have seen many pics. of the big hotels taken down in VEGAS, to make way for a new and bigger one, and let me tell you, there is a difference between an “implosion” and an “explosion” and what I saw that Sept. day was an IMPLOSION, and no one will ever convience me otherwise.
But, the men who knew about the construction of those building and started telling why it could not have happened at the government stated, were shut-up, quickly….some even losing their job over their comments. These are Engineers I am talking about, not just some joe-blow off the street. But, thathis here in Canada, I am not sure just what theYanks think, mostly they are so brain-washed I don’t know if they do have any thoughts not put to them on the evening news………..!!! Well, that’s my biggest Rant…..!!!
Bye for now, Sissy

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