In the wake of the recent Paris terror attacks, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to beef up internet surveillance with an aim to monitor online communications, while speaking at a campaign in Nottingham on Monday.
“If I’m Prime Minister I will make sure it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that makes sure we do not allow terrorists safe space to communicate with each other,” Cameron said, in his campaign speech, for the elections four months later.
Intelligence agencies can expect more access to online data to get insight into internet communications, if such a legislation does move forward – not a favourable step keeping in line with freedom on the internet.
Civil liberty proponents have not taken kindly to the news. “It is wholly unacceptable for this tragedy in Paris to be used as a means to call for a return of the snooper’s charter,” said Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch.
The International Business Times points out the snooping incident that had surfaced last year when it was revealed by the government’s top anti-terror chief Charles Farr that Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) could glean on UK citizens through Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube.
His pledge comes just a week after US President Barrack Obama proposed the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act to address cyber security issues that have been hounding enterprises and authorities alike, through the last year.
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(Image credit: World Economic Forum)
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