Score One for Privacy

I am the first to support law enforcement agencies in their legal and rightful actions. Law enforcement keeps our society on a level field and insures our freedoms. At the same time the recent invasions of our privacy in surveillance is disquieting. Today comes the news that may be changing at least a little in our lives.

Today communication monitoring is a real tool in the fight against organized crime and other criminal activities. At the same time many innocent people may be swept up in the surveillance without their being aware or being told of the monitoring. Internet phones are changing all that for the consumer to the detriment of the law enforcement agencies.

As more and more phone calls are routed over the web – using software such as Skype – police are losing the ability to track who has called whom, from where and for how long.

For us ordinary consumers this is good news as our communication has a better chance of remaining private. In Britain at least the government has a different idea.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, outlined plans yesterday for a huge expansion of the Government’s capability to access data held by internet services, including social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo, and gaming networks.

Around every turn is increased surveillance. If the US is not already monitoring in the same way how far behind may they be? Big Brother is watching indeed.

Peace.