Domestic Spying Bill Lets Government See Your Complete Browser History

If passed the Investigatory Powers Bill would give the UK government access to citizens'
private data. Photo: nolifebeforecoffee | FlickrCC.

A law currently being proposed in the United Kingdom would give that country one of the most draconian surveillance laws of any democracy if passed. The Investigatory Powers Bill is an attempt to collect the U.K.’s myriad data and surveillance laws into one bill.

These laws are scattered in different parts of the government and were drafted in emergency processes. Supporters and opponents of the bill agree that the U.K. needs streamlined and transparent laws governing citizen surveillance.

This bill has many problems. It would allow British intelligence agencies cart blanche to retrieve any data from any citizen. Police would be able to search the browser history of any citizen if they could justify the necessity in a missing person case or when there is a threat to life. They could view a citizen’s complete online history including legal and illegal sites.

The bill would codify processes and policies that were only exposed to the public following Edward Snowden’s revelations. The British people are unhappy about giving those powers to their government.

The bill has been criticized by the whole of civil society. Privacy groups, rights groups, tech companies such as Apple, and even several committees within the government brought together to review the bill, have all voiced opposition to it.

Despite all that, the bill continues to move through the government, and the goal is to have it put into place by the end of the year. Allowing the passage of such a bill would establish a potentially dangerous global precedent.

In addition to establishing such laws in the United Kingdom, it would lend credence to similar attempts in other democracies. And that could stand as a huge blow to what democracy is supposed to stand for. After all, democracies are supposed to work for the people, not out of fear of them.