Facebook, Bebo and My Space could be monitored by the government.

Mozette

mewbie wrote: »

It might be fairly easy and cheap to monitor for certain key phrases like "build a bomb", "selling coke", "child pornography". Although I object to some aspects of privacy invasion I don't really think that a bunch of sad losers who choose to spend their time posting inanities on internet sites can complain if someone wants to monitor them. They, er we, should be flattered.

Are they bothered about Pepsi too?

vivatifosi

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

The main difference between the EU directive and the UK plan is that instead of having ISPs hold the data for the government to be able to search, the government will provide a central repositry where the ISPs will deposit the data. That way the cost is footed by the state rather than from Internet users.

So, to be clear, they are spending money they don't need to. Is that correct?

Generali

If the UK Government is going to monitor communication between people then social networking sites have to be a part of that. I was told of an insider dealing case where the communication was done through ebay for example - just because a form of communication is unconventional, doesn't mean it won't be used by criminals.

Now whether or not communication should be monitored by Government. That's a big question.

Rochdale_Pioneers

Generali wrote: »

Now whether or not communication should be monitored by Government. That's a big question.

Ideally they wouldn't be. But with so many threats out there we'd be calling them incompetent and negligent if they weren't tracking terrorist groups and other dangers. How are they to do so without surveillance?

At least with these proposals whats going to happen is made perfectly clear. Which is far more than we ever knew in the 70s and 80s as our security agencies kept schtum on their capabilities and what they were doing with it.

Generali

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

Ideally they wouldn't be. But with so many threats out there we'd be calling them incompetent and negligent if they weren't tracking terrorist groups and other dangers. How are they to do so without surveillance?

At least with these proposals whats going to happen is made perfectly clear. Which is far more than we ever knew in the 70s and 80s as our security agencies kept schtum on their capabilities and what they were doing with it.

TBH, I think you're right that surveillance is needed to fight crime (including terrorism). The problem I have with the way things are moving across the Western World is the disregard that Governments seem to have for the desire of ordinary citizens (or subjects in the UK and Aus) to keep things secret from the Government and Government employees.

The default position seems to be moving from one of you having privacy unless you come under reasonable suspicion to not having any real rights to keeping things private at all - that Government employees can insist on knowing whatever they want.

It's a very dangerous shift IMO.

ILW

I am a bit dim so bear with me.
1 i cannot understand why anyone wants to post their personal details on the internet.
2 I cannot see why if you do, then you should moan about anyone looking at it.
Can somebody please put me straight?

Generali

ILW wrote: »

I am a bit dim so bear with me.
1 i cannot understand why anyone wants to post their personal details on the internet.
2 I cannot see why if you do, then you should moan about anyone looking at it.
Can somebody please put me straight?

Not everybody can see what's on most social networking sites. My facebook for example can only be seen by my friends.