It seems that
Internet privacy is merely an illusion and no more than a dream.
Reports coming from developed countries have shown that some
agencies have used the Internet and cellular phones as a new method
of spying and watching Internet surfers worldwide. For instance, the
United States is using its Echelon system to literally watch
everything that goes over the Internet. In Britain, newspapers have
accused the national and local governments of launching websites
that seek to watch people on the streets, in subways, public parks,
restaurants, malls and even bathrooms!
Is it really
true that everything on the Internet is under surveillance by some
entity? In fact, experts have clearly stated that the British
authorities, as well as official entities belonging to other
governments, have entirely eliminated anything that could be called
secrecy over the Internet. The British authorities, based on the
1986 Communications law, are authorized to tap phone lines and
monitor Internet surfers. Usually, e-mail scrutiny is made available
as a service by Internet providers or what is called (ISP). In the
United Kingdom alone, there are over 300 ISPs.
Human Rights
organizations have expressed their grave concerns with regard to the
British communication laws that infringe upon individual rights and
privacy. In fact, the suggested amendments to British Communication
Laws will also provide other governmental departments that are not
currently included within the surveillance apparatus with the rights
to scrutinize whomever they want at any time. These are the Customs
and Social Affairs departments. Human rights organizations have
complained that British governmental authorities are not in need of
laws to watch anybody. Unfortunately, they could do it without a
legal umbrella overseeing their actions. However, information
obtained from the Internet can’t be used as evidence in courts yet.
In some cases,
people who would like to escape surveillance can participate with an
Internet provider that provides the service of e-mail coding.
However, suspected individuals are even forced by the British
authorities to surrender the codes and decode their e-mail for
surveillance purposes.
Streets
Surveillance
The second type
of surveillance in Britain that is scary are street cameras that
have been installed by police departments and municipalities across
the country. The purpose is to document every move and activity that
occurs in the streets and on the roads. Their only justification for
these cameras is the security and safety of the people.
Street cameras
work in the following manner: police departments provide computer
networks that are connected to street cameras that have information
on criminals. Thus, whenever these criminals or wanted/suspected
people are located on roads and streets, cameras take a shot of
them. The camera then directly notifies the closest policeman to
track and capture them. One of the very most active municipalities
when it comes to street cameras is the Newham municipality. So far
Newham municipality has installed 240 surveillance cameras to watch
every move of the people around the clock.
Media reports
have indicated that it is not only Newham municipality, but also
most, if not all, British municipalities are following suit. In
fact, the media have indicated that such municipal actions may
represent the official policy of the British government, which is
supported and welcomed by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Accordingly, electronic cameras that are connected to the
surveillance center and the Internet are designed to watch the whole
country. Places targeted so far include roads, major highways,
public parks, parking lots, public phones, elevators and even
bathrooms! It may even go beyond that by being installed on the Red
Roof transportation buses to watch passengers and the license plates
of cars traveling next to the buses. Such actions would entirely
eliminate any type of privacy that people ever dreamed off.
There is
literally no place where we can feel free from being watched in the
age of Information Technology. It is indeed a scary thought and
feeling that Big Brother can monitor our every move in our homes,
work places and in public. Truly, privacy is becoming a thing of the
past.
