Live data from Hacker News

UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

independent.co.uk

11–20 of 93 posts

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#11
In the title, change "UK" to "Chinese State" and you might not bat an eyelid.

The democracy we have is a Frankenstein version of the democracy many think we have. And in the same way you would hesitate at calling Frankenstein human, I would hesitate at calling what we have a democracy.

I'll still have it over the alternatives but what a mediocre state we've ended up in.

Needs to be fixed.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#12

In the title, change "UK" to "Chinese State" and you might not bat an eyelid. The democracy we have is a Frankenstein version of the democracy many think we have. And in the same way you would hesitate at calling Frankenstein human, I would hesitate at calling what we have a democracy. I'll still have it over the alternatives but what a mediocre state we've ended up in. Needs to be fixed.

It's still democracy and it still protects against extreme runaway government power. Ultimately the issue is that people want this. People are scared of terrorists. People do want the government to bend the rules to track them down. That's exactly what democracy is supposed to be.

What it's not supposed to be is what everyone wants, fair, right or ensuring people's information is kept secret from the government.

In short, politicians do what their voters demand.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#13

In the title, change "UK" to "Chinese State" and you might not bat an eyelid. The democracy we have is a Frankenstein version of the democracy many think we have. And in the same way you would hesitate at calling Frankenstein human, I would hesitate at calling what we have a democracy. I'll still have it over the alternatives but what a mediocre state we've ended up in. Needs to be fixed.

It's still democracy and it still protects against extreme runaway government power. Ultimately the issue is that people want this. People are scared of terrorists. People do want the government to bend the rules to track them down. That's exactly what democracy is supposed to be. What it's not supposed to be is what everyone wants, fair, right or ensuring people's information is kept secret from the government. In s…

Yes, but I believe in a society where almost all of the major news outlets are owned by supporters of the current government, the politicians also have a strong ability to control what their voters are demanding.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#14
post #6

Short term gain for long term pain from the security services here. Journalists and researchers into Islamic groups like IS, should be left in peace to carry out research into how these militant groups operate and function. The security services have struggled to make inroads on these groups. Unable to place effective spies and get Intel, especially on home grown cells. Journalists therefore provide a double function…

I'm fairly certain you don't actually know anything like enough people who work for any of the security services in the UK to make this an informed opinion. Because you couldn't be more wrong. A populist viewpoint with no basis whatsoever in reality.

Not surprising, but disappointing.

For the avoidance of doubt, no, I don't support what's happened here. It's ill-judged (no pun intended) to say the least.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#15

In the title, change "UK" to "Chinese State" and you might not bat an eyelid. The democracy we have is a Frankenstein version of the democracy many think we have. And in the same way you would hesitate at calling Frankenstein human, I would hesitate at calling what we have a democracy. I'll still have it over the alternatives but what a mediocre state we've ended up in. Needs to be fixed.

It's still democracy and it still protects against extreme runaway government power. Ultimately the issue is that people want this. People are scared of terrorists. People do want the government to bend the rules to track them down. That's exactly what democracy is supposed to be. What it's not supposed to be is what everyone wants, fair, right or ensuring people's information is kept secret from the government. In s…

> People are scared of terrorists.

Are they? If they are it's irrational, you're far more likely to be killed by a falling fridge or alcohol induced liver damage. Attacking a bogyman in an attempt to take eyes off what your government is really doing is quite sickening.

Everyone would be significantly better off if we stopped parading around with 'defense' funding and put it to something with a perceivable impact like public healthcare. It's ridiculous that people are justifying this sort of enormous waste of time and resources as worthwhile.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#16
post #6

Short term gain for long term pain from the security services here. Journalists and researchers into Islamic groups like IS, should be left in peace to carry out research into how these militant groups operate and function. The security services have struggled to make inroads on these groups. Unable to place effective spies and get Intel, especially on home grown cells. Journalists therefore provide a double function…

I'm fairly certain you don't actually know anything like enough people who work for any of the security services in the UK to make this an informed opinion. Because you couldn't be more wrong. A populist viewpoint with no basis whatsoever in reality. Not surprising, but disappointing. For the avoidance of doubt, no, I don't support what's happened here. It's ill-judged (no pun intended) to say the least.

> A populist viewpoint with no basis whatsoever in reality.

What you just said serves no purpose. Can you please provide sources and alternative viewpoints people can actually discuss, rather than belittle someone for commenting on a story?

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#17
post #6

Short term gain for long term pain from the security services here. Journalists and researchers into Islamic groups like IS, should be left in peace to carry out research into how these militant groups operate and function. The security services have struggled to make inroads on these groups. Unable to place effective spies and get Intel, especially on home grown cells. Journalists therefore provide a double function…

I'm fairly certain you don't actually know anything like enough people who work for any of the security services in the UK to make this an informed opinion. Because you couldn't be more wrong. A populist viewpoint with no basis whatsoever in reality. Not surprising, but disappointing. For the avoidance of doubt, no, I don't support what's happened here. It's ill-judged (no pun intended) to say the least.

A predictable response from a supporter of the military-industrial complex. Those who use secrecy to rule deserve the right to neither.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still democracy and it still protects against extreme runaway government power. Ultimately the issue is that people want this. People are scared of terrorists. People do want the government to bend the rules to track them down. That's exactly what democracy is supposed to be. What it's not supposed to be is what everyone wants, fair, right or ensuring people's information is kept secret from the government. In s…

> People are scared of terrorists. Are they? If they are it's irrational, you're far more likely to be killed by a falling fridge or alcohol induced liver damage. Attacking a bogyman in an attempt to take eyes off what your government is really doing is quite sickening. Everyone would be significantly better off if we stopped parading around with 'defense' funding and put it to something with a perceivable impact lik…

Sadly the Guardian did a study on it recently, and the UK public's number one fear was of a terrorist attack. The propoganda is working.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#19
post #3

And why exactly are people wondering that it's always the fictionalized UK that turns into a fascist dictatorship and not any other country?

Because it's pretty much the only country in Europe that's never had a facist government.

Nice doublespeak. What you really mean is that its the one country in the world you would expect fascism to rise as it has been, since the UK has always had a classist bent to its politics and requires the underclass to serve at the behest of the elite. Those who have seen the other side of the Imperial table at which the UK dines know full well that the 'slide into fascism' is really just an unveiling.

Re: UK police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still democracy and it still protects against extreme runaway government power. Ultimately the issue is that people want this. People are scared of terrorists. People do want the government to bend the rules to track them down. That's exactly what democracy is supposed to be. What it's not supposed to be is what everyone wants, fair, right or ensuring people's information is kept secret from the government. In s…

> People are scared of terrorists. Are they? If they are it's irrational, you're far more likely to be killed by a falling fridge or alcohol induced liver damage. Attacking a bogyman in an attempt to take eyes off what your government is really doing is quite sickening. Everyone would be significantly better off if we stopped parading around with 'defense' funding and put it to something with a perceivable impact lik…

> you're far more likely to be killed by alcohol induced liver damage

Try telling that to someone who doesn't drink.

Post reply on HN