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Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

theregister.com

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Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#141

Post by dofm »

hn_submit wrote: post #122

And water is wet. Of course Brits are going to answer that they'd rather not have the government read their private correspondence. But at the same time there has been very little protest over draconian legislation in the UK like the Online Safety Act and RIPA Part 3 that cover just these aspects.

The Online Safety Act has broad support from the people of the UK from the left and right combined.

Nobody is stopping anyone protesting against it, but it is not imposed by some imaginary uniparty fascist regime, it is something people want.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#142

Post by tim333 »

7bit wrote: post #34
janpeuker wrote: post #26

A long time ago I walked into a public library to get a library card, already my ID in hand. Staff looked at me aghast "why would we need an ID for a card, that'd be ridiculous!". I feel Brits take privacy quite seriously.

And yet, they voted for the governments that killed privacy and established surveillance in public, because they love privacy so much.

It's a country of moderation in most things.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#143

Post by teamonkey »

armchairhacker wrote: post #59
HPsquared wrote: post #15

Generally speaking the more important an issue is, the less it is allowed to be affected by democratic processes. That's why Brexit was such a big upset, it bucked the trend (the management miscalculated, nobody expected the result and would not have put it to referendum otherwise).

"Democracy is the worst form of government except for all others that have been tried". If the people aren't capable of handling an issue, who is? Bureaucrats who are...elected democratically? Brexit's issue is that it can't be easily reversed, I don't understand why they don't just hold another referendum and undo everything.

Because the UK had a preferential agreement with the EU and a leadership position. It would be impossible to restore that state.

Even if there were a UK referendum where a clear majority voted to rejoin the EU as a member state, not at the top table, our return to the EU depends on the EU accepting our application. We burned a lot of bridges on exit that we need to rebuild.

And also the favourite party to win in the next election is spearheaded by the very people who orchestrated Brexit. The EU will not be receptive while it seems that a majority of people are still voting for an anti-EU party.

The sensible course for rejoining is to work towards Schengen or similar, while acting as a partner state in good faith for a decade or two.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#144

Post by dofm »

softwaredoug wrote: post #70

In the US we have tech companies complying with sketchy DHS subpoenas that don’t require warrants. We have DoJ targeting political enemies. We have FISA mass surveillance. It’s naive to think politically motivated surveillance can’t happen in the UK and elsewhere. Or to assume that only the “right people” will be the ones able to break encryption.

> In the US we have tech companies complying with sketchy DHS subpoenas that don’t require warrants. We have DoJ targeting political enemies. We have FISA mass surveillance.

You also have a president who has just said he will "report" a journalist to the FCC for "rebuke or punishment".

I regret to inform people that fear over people cracking your encryption is quite niche, at this point; you have a looming fascist regime and should be more afraid of the $5 wrench.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#145

Post by ethagnawl »

trollbridge wrote: post #100
softwaredoug wrote: post #70

In the US we have tech companies complying with sketchy DHS subpoenas that don’t require warrants. We have DoJ targeting political enemies. We have FISA mass surveillance. It’s naive to think politically motivated surveillance can’t happen in the UK and elsewhere. Or to assume that only the “right people” will be the ones able to break encryption.

In the US we also have tech companies going out of their way to make their devices have strong encryption and be unbreakable.

One. Most of the time. Supposedly.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#146

Post by Eddy_Viscosity2 »

softwaredoug wrote: post #70

In the US we have tech companies complying with sketchy DHS subpoenas that don’t require warrants. We have DoJ targeting political enemies. We have FISA mass surveillance. It’s naive to think politically motivated surveillance can’t happen in the UK and elsewhere. Or to assume that only the “right people” will be the ones able to break encryption.

> It’s naive to think politically motivated surveillance can’t happen in the UK and elsewhere.

It's naive to think it isn't already happening in the UK and elsewhere and has for a long time. The only thing technology is changing is to increase the depth and scope of what they surveil.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#147

Post by 1718627440 »

madaxe_again wrote: post #68
badgersnake wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They just don’t read past the headline and the headline usually involves paedophiles.

I mean, at what point do we say that wilfully refusing to absorb relevant information and then knowingly and willingly making a decision based on that lack of information is, indeed, their will?

The general populace potentially not willing to make informed choices is the reason why we kept monarchy for so long.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#148

Post by tetris11 »

dofm wrote: post #144
softwaredoug wrote: post #70

In the US we have tech companies complying with sketchy DHS subpoenas that don’t require warrants. We have DoJ targeting political enemies. We have FISA mass surveillance. It’s naive to think politically motivated surveillance can’t happen in the UK and elsewhere. Or to assume that only the “right people” will be the ones able to break encryption.

> In the US we have tech companies complying with sketchy DHS subpoenas that don’t require warrants. We have DoJ targeting political enemies. We have FISA mass surveillance. You also have a president who has just said he will "report" a journalist to the FCC for "rebuke or punishment". I regret to inform people that fear over people cracking your encryption is quite niche, at this point; you have a looming fascist re…

> $5 wrench

Ref for anyone looking: https://xkcd.com/538/

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#149

Post by kypro »

alt227 wrote: post #81
hackersnooze1 wrote: post #62

I am not convinced they do, they keep voting to give away their privacy every year.

Every political party in the UK supports things like the Digital Rights Act. So what is a person to do?

If these policies were deeply unpopular then political parties wouldn't support them because they'd be giving an easy win to their opponents.

Truth is no one really cares.

Re: Brits would quite like their private messages to stay private

#150

Post by 1718627440 »

MYEUHD wrote: post #73
madaxe_again wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, at what point do we say that wilfully refusing to absorb relevant information and then knowingly and willingly making a decision based on that lack of information is, indeed, their will?

This is called rational irrationality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_irrationality

That wikipedia article reads weird. It sounds like a formalized collection of obvious facts.
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