Twitter is lively with reports that Nick Clegg has confirmed the Snoopers’ Charter will not be in the Queen’s Speech. Furthermore Clegg himself has blocked the Communications Data Bill.
Big Brother Watch carries a report here.
Cameron Told To Drop Snooping On Web Users
Today’s Times carries a very interesting front page with the same headline as this post’s title.
Liberal Democrat Stephen Tall’s blog has an analysis of the article and names three of the nine cybersecurity experts who have reportedly challenged the Coalition “government” to drop this cock eyed and illiberal scheme.
VFPJ has been against any kind of state monitoring of the internet since the Labour “government” first mooted the idea. In 2009 I politely told the APCOMMS committee that Parliament is clueless in dealing with technical issues and should seek the advice of a committee of independent experts. Given that they have not, I would dearly like to know the names and qualifications of those who have told the “government” that this monitoring scheme is a technically feasible and good idea.
Let’s see who the control freaks really are. Let’s put their ideas out to peer analysis.
Update: Big Brother Watch has a report including the text of the letter sent to David Cameron. You will see one of the points made is strikingly similar to those made in the campaign against Phorm.
TechWeek: UK Police World’s Hungriest For Skype Users’ Private Data
As the UK “government” tries to push forward its surveillance state agenda, Techweek Europe reports that the UK police are the world’s greediest for wanting access to Skype users’ personal data. Here are a couple of snippets from the Techweek report:
In 2012, the UK was the source of 1,268 requests for Skype user information, while the whole of the US made only 1,154 requests, and German police made a paltry 685. The UK was looking for information on 2,720 different users in its requests.
If the Snoopers’ Charter is passed into law then this is just a small part of the kinds of information the police will be looking for on everyone. Remember, in surveillance states everyone is a criminal. It’s just a case of finding the evidence to get them convicted.
More interestingly (or worryingly)
In 50 cases, UK police requests were rejected for not meeting legal requirements.
This shows a disregard for the law and due process by the police themselves. Will those who authorised and submitted the flawed requests be taken to task?
I’m sure we all know the answer to that.
In the meantime, questions still persist about Skype and privacy.
Non-content data, such as SkypeIDs, names, email accounts, billing information and call detail records were handed over. Microsoft did not give figures for how much non-content information was passed on.
Make of that what you will.
The Final Chapter Of Andrew Crossley? Suspended For 2 Years
Today saw the disgraced, discredited bully Andrew Crossley up before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal on 7 charges relating to ACS:Law’s (his former company, since shut down) harassment of alleged file-sharers. ISPreview’s commentary on proceedings is worth reading, particularly the section dealing with how, even though declared bankrupt, Crossley still lives the high life. Crossley has also still to pay the fine levied on him by the ICO.
ACS:Law & MediaCAT Shut Down?
TorrentFreak reports some very good news if, like me, you believe that the so-called speculative invoicing (aka bullying innocent people) trade is unethical and wrong.
According to a document seen by TorrentFreak, both ACS:Law and their copyright troll client MediaCAT have just completely shut down their businesses.