New counter-extremism plans to allow police to ask to vet anyone’s internet communications – News – Gadgets and Tech – The Independent

Last Updated: May 13, 2015By

Who would decide what constitutes extremism? Would it, by any chance, include any comment that criticises the Conservative Party? Would it, perhaps, include any call for a public demonstration against Tory policies?

It seems that, far from such activities posing a threat to the functioning of democracy, it is this proposal that creates the greatest risk.

David Cameron is to lay out the plans for wide-ranging new powers to the National Security Council.

They have been introduced in the context of increasing Islamic extremism but cover the “harmful activities” of all extremist individuals — including those that pose a risk of public disorder or a threat to the functioning of democracy.

The package of powers was first proposed in March, but were vetoed by the Liberal Democrats on the grounds of free speech.

The plans would allow the police to ask the higher court to order extremists to be banned from broadcasting and send every tweet, Facebook post or other web communication to the police for approval.

That would include posts from users telling friends and followers that their communications were now being vetted, or ones denying the extremism claims that led to them being charged under such measures.

Ofcom is also expected to be given new powers that will allow it to take stronger actions on the channels that it regulates.

That includes telecommunications firms as well as its more conventional role of regulating TV and other broadcasts.

Source: New counter-extremism plans to allow police to ask to vet anyone’s internet communications – News – Gadgets and Tech – The Independent

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7 Comments

  1. NMac May 13, 2015 at 10:26 am - Reply

    The Nasty Party already considers even the slightest criticism of them and their nasty policies as something akin to treason. With this and the boundary changes they are proposing it seems they want to eliminate any opposition to them and their nasty ideas.

  2. Joan Edington May 13, 2015 at 11:04 am - Reply

    Absolute dictatorship is born. Democracy dead.

  3. prayerwarriorpsychicnot May 13, 2015 at 1:31 pm - Reply

    “A threat to the functioning of democracy”? Can I look forward to the police locking up our unrepresentative politicians, our undemocratic Eurocrats, whoever is behind TPP and corporate lobbyists? Shouldn’t think so. It’s just current politicians Orwell speak for silencing anyone in the country who WANT OUR DEMOCRACY BACK.

  4. Ian May 13, 2015 at 8:10 pm - Reply

    Pre 2010, weren’t the Tories always complaining about Labour being Stalinst or running a surveillance state and promised to repeal all repressive laws passed under Labour?

    Let’s see if the right wing commentators still complain now when it’s their lot doing the legislating.

    • Mike Sivier May 13, 2015 at 8:35 pm - Reply

      In fairness, I just found a Torygraph article stating that Labour and the Tories were as bad as each other in this respect – and it was NICK CLEGG (who?) doing the criticising.

      • Ian May 13, 2015 at 10:01 pm - Reply

        Ah. I was certain the Tories were faking outrage, too. I also seem to remember a Conservative bill of British rights before the 2010 election in the same anti-Labour context. Look what that turned out to be…

  5. Andrew Peacock May 13, 2015 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    “threat to the functioning of democracy”… Funnily enough, when I read that in the Independent, I read that as “thread to the functioning of the Tories”, especially after the demonstrations last week.

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