What is the Snooper's Charter aka The Investigatory Bill?
In December 2016 the Investigatory Bill was given Royal Assent. This law gives the Government access to data and information on all citizens within the UK. So what kind of data? The worst kind... Emails, Social Media, FaceTime, snapchat, text messages, phone calls, PayPal transactions, online banking, eBay purchases, Foxy Kittens the website your girlfriend doesn't even know about! How much Bitcoin you buy from Coin-base and how much you've got stored in your wallet. To make this easier basically everything connected to the internet the data is being sucked, stored, stashed in servers by organisations we pay a direct debit to monthly. If you own Alexa she knows your secrets as much as these organisations and the government. She knows your favourite porn and your favourite album.
So what's the harm?
Well what if you are young naive and popular not to mention the fact you already think your invincible. You start shifting some mojo jo jo at college to your buds and babes and before you know it your living the life, Plenty of money, plenty of fame, plenty of happiness. In the day and age we live in this youngster is taking 2 options. He thinks he plays safe with a £10 phone that can only text and call. Or he doesn't give a monkeys or just hasn't the brains to realise an IPhone 7 on contract is a Lawyer representing the Po Po's wet dream. The Police will even ask you the question in the interview room "If we look at your phone would we find texts or calls that would incriminate yourself" so no matter what mobile device this youngster is using its going to bite him or her on the arse. If your arrested and your phone is seized as evidence and a crime has been committed. Nine times out of ten without pleading guilty at the first possible option given the charges are correct, the mobile device will be used as evidence against the defendant. Without proper education on this Bill and with the youth of today so exposed to the internet and the modern society of drugs, violence, alcohol etc mobile devices will make the process for the Justice system easier and potentially ruin or damage live's through young mistakes.
Let's not forget the harm it does to the ordinary working class. I mean it's hard enough working twelve hours a day paying taxes and your bills to learn your being snooped on. How far will the powers eventually extend, will the Nhs or other health care organisations have access to information about how often we smoke, drink, sleep with different men or women when they budget treatment. How is Democracy not damaged by Terrorism with such laws in place? I may not give the best explanation as to why the law effects today's youth but it's not hard to think of some reason as to why this law is scary and potentially dangerous to all citizens in the UK.
What's the Positives of the Bill?
Firstly it's to target terrorism. That is excellent except... take for example Isis. What is known as a "Miniority" surely with 6+ billion people on Earth and 90% of the world using the internet is it like finding a tiny grain of cannabis in a field of grass? There is no argument for positives to this Bill because it destroys Human Rights. In America it destroys the first amendment (Without a court order). This law is the beginning of the end for the internet and freedom of speech.
This post will be updated. I hope it atleast educated those briefly on the IP Act. Please follow the links below for more information on the Investigatory Powers Act aka The Snooper's Charter.
