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UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

theguardian.com

1–10 of 27 posts

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#3

  He accepted it would be “far too intrusive” for officers to
  be able to access content of internet searches and social 
  media messaging without additional safeguards, such as the 
  requirement for a judicial warrant.
When you need to scale the walls of a seemingly impenetrable castle, it is easier to slowly and quietly dig under the foundations until they fall of they own accord.

Once they have this, then don't be surprised that in a few years time they will need some kind of "temporary emergency powers" that actually end up lasting 45 years, allowing them to access the data without a warrant.

Which funnily enough they are doing already. They just get the NSA to do it for them on UK citizens and GCHQ return the favour.

It's like asking for a apple after you've stolen one already.

As a side note the Anti-Tertorism legislation was supposed to be temporary emergency powers. They got extended and extended and expanded and expanded. Didn't matter which government came and went. They all bent the knee.

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#5
post #3

He accepted it would be “far too intrusive” for officers to be able to access content of internet searches and social media messaging without additional safeguards, such as the requirement for a judicial warrant. When you need to scale the walls of a seemingly impenetrable castle, it is easier to slowly and quietly dig under the foundations until they fall of they own accord. Once they have this, then don't be surpri…

You skipped this part:

“Five years ago, [a suspect] could have physically walked into a bank and carried out a transaction. We could have put a surveillance team on that but now, most of it is done online. We just want to know about the visit.”

Willie sutton robbed banks cause "That's where the money is". When bad guys use the internet to do bad things, you have to go 'where the money is' or suffer the consequences if you don't.

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#6
post #4

> were they on Facebook, or a banking site, or an illegal child-abuse image-sharing website? well, that escalated quickly

Got to toss that last one in so people toss their reasoning out and go with pure emotions. Sometimes I wonder if such material was made as offensive as it is currently viewed as a tool to spearhead attacks of this nature. It wouldn't be the oddest social engineering a group like the CIA has done (look at the abstract art discussion on HN from earlier this week).

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#7
post #3

He accepted it would be “far too intrusive” for officers to be able to access content of internet searches and social media messaging without additional safeguards, such as the requirement for a judicial warrant. When you need to scale the walls of a seemingly impenetrable castle, it is easier to slowly and quietly dig under the foundations until they fall of they own accord. Once they have this, then don't be surpri…

You skipped this part: “Five years ago, [a suspect] could have physically walked into a bank and carried out a transaction. We could have put a surveillance team on that but now, most of it is done online. We just want to know about the visit.” Willie sutton robbed banks cause "That's where the money is". When bad guys use the internet to do bad things, you have to go 'where the money is' or suffer the consequences i…

That "physical transaction" analogy would be correct if it was putting a surveillance team on every single person in the UK 24/7/365 recording everything they do, just in case any man, woman, or child turned into a bank robber at any time.

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#8
post #3

He accepted it would be “far too intrusive” for officers to be able to access content of internet searches and social media messaging without additional safeguards, such as the requirement for a judicial warrant. When you need to scale the walls of a seemingly impenetrable castle, it is easier to slowly and quietly dig under the foundations until they fall of they own accord. Once they have this, then don't be surpri…

You skipped this part: “Five years ago, [a suspect] could have physically walked into a bank and carried out a transaction. We could have put a surveillance team on that but now, most of it is done online. We just want to know about the visit.” Willie sutton robbed banks cause "That's where the money is". When bad guys use the internet to do bad things, you have to go 'where the money is' or suffer the consequences i…

The equivalent would be to bug the internet and phone of the target. That's something they can already do and which is reasonable.

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#9
How long until News internationals pet bent coppers are selling the browsing habits of celebs - sounds like the MET police is getting overmighty again - time to let Therasa of her leash.

For those not familiar with history post ww1 the Met Police wanted to take over MI5's job.

Re: UK police seek powers to access browsing history of computer users

#10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You skipped this part: “Five years ago, [a suspect] could have physically walked into a bank and carried out a transaction. We could have put a surveillance team on that but now, most of it is done online. We just want to know about the visit.” Willie sutton robbed banks cause "That's where the money is". When bad guys use the internet to do bad things, you have to go 'where the money is' or suffer the consequences i…

That "physical transaction" analogy would be correct if it was putting a surveillance team on every single person in the UK 24/7/365 recording everything they do, just in case any man, woman, or child turned into a bank robber at any time.

Sounds like the Starzi.
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