Controversial government plans to allow intelligence agencies to monitor the calls, emails, texts and website visits of every person in the UK should be scrapped, the inventor of the world wide web has said.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee warned that the "dangerous" new laws would lead to a "destruction of human rights" if they were implemented in their current form.
The new legislation, expected in next month's Queen's Speech, will enable GCHQ to access information "on demand" in "real time" without a warrant.
But the British computer engineer, who advises the Government on how to make public data more accessible, said there has not been enough discussion on how the sensitive data could be safely stored.
In an interview with The Guardian Sir Tim said: "The idea that we should routinely record information about people is obviously very dangerous.
"It means that there will be information around which could be stolen, which can be acquired through corrupt officials or corrupt operators, and (could be) used, for example, to blackmail people in the Government or people in the military.
"We open ourselves out, if we store this information, to it being abused."
The internet pioneer added: "The amount of control you have over somebody if you can monitor internet activity is amazing.
"You get to know every detail, you get to know, in a way, more intimate details about their life than any person that they talk to because often people will confide in the internet as they find their way through medical websites....or as an adolescent finds their way through a website about homosexuality, wondering what they are and whether they should talk to people about it."
The Home Secretary Theresa May defended the proposals after they faced fierce criticism from backbench MPs and civil liberties groups.
She insisted that suspected terrorists, paedophiles and serious criminals would be targeted by intelligence officials rather than ordinary people.
Sir Tim said that if the government pushes ahead with the plans a "very strong independent body" would have to be set up to scrutinise the use of the powers.
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Controversial government plans to allow intelligence agencies to monitor the calls, emails, texts and website visits of every person in the UK should be scrapped, the inventor of the world wide web ha...
Controversial government plans to allow intelligence agencies to monitor the calls, emails, texts and website visits of every person in the UK should be scrapped, the inventor of the world wide web ha...
The government hates the internet, they hate anything they can't control, how long before they try to tax it beyond the reach of normal working people.
whatapalava39: The government hates the internet, they hate anything they can't
“Don't worry Mrs May, our Government officials and those in the intelligence service are quite capable of letting out 'sensitive' information by themselves!
A few years ago some may recollect that the newly appointed head of MI6 was dogged by the revelations in the media that his WIFE - yes you heard it correctly - had joined Facebook and placed all her family's details on it! Photographs were included of her husband on a beach in Cornwall, dates of birth of close family and herself, house address and even 'congratulations' of her husband's new appointment by well meaning family members. These personal details were hurriedly removed from Facebook and controls put in place - but not until the press had had a field day! Mind you she may also have a Twitter account?
Nonetheless there is NO secret about GCHQ and what it's capabilities are. For the Government to even attempt to record or 'listen in' to daily information of us all is scandalous.
Sir Tim, however is quite right, in some circumstances details MAY be altered sufficiently by others to create trouble. Plus what about those who do defect from our own intelligencia to join others? It happens.
To bring this to force IS a breach of our Human Rights (as if of course they are not being breached already LOL) but to make it public that they are doing so only creates more problems.”
takbisc: “Don't worry Mrs May, our Government officials and those in
My My, how cMORRON and his Tory troops must admire communist China who like to control their internet users rights, and what part of this dangerouse mans obscene internet plans have the useless Lib-Dem Lackies played a part in?
VOYAGERX: My My, how cMORRON and his Tory troops must admire
When I pressed the post comment button, I watched Fozwords flag as abusive button go too!
I didn't touch it! I will report it to the Huff because that was not meant to happen.
Southern_law_girl: When I pressed the post comment button, I watched Fozwords
i remember very clearly being branded as a paranoid person, banging on about monotoring everybody, taser guns privicy erosion drones etc, we are sleepwalking into a new world order , the endgame of the western regimes is coming into play and we are powerless to change or do anything thimk on the land of the braves constitution was written in stone the only way to change that and of course our own laws hewre in the sceptic isle was through fear, and boy does that work well look at at whats happened since the 911 and 7/7 attrocities its a very dangerous period in our history, and we should be very worried.
orwell_was_right: i remember very clearly being branded as a paranoid person,
Again we have violation of civil liberty under a banner of 'terrorism'. If terrorists are going to strike, they will strike, did Bin Laden ever use cellphones or the internet ? no, why ? because like most people today, he suspected governments were monitoring such communications. One look through the news articles of the last few years suggests the UK government suck big time at keeping sensitive information private.
In a court of law, the onus is on the prosecution to prove a crime has been committed, this new plan moves us into a minority report scenario, where you may find yourself being targeted simply as a result of blind curiosity, Many recent court cases highlight this, where people have been convicted, based almost exclusively on strange internet searches, this in itself is disturbing enough.
Pre-cognition simply cannot be allowed, crime solving must remain a system of suspecting and then proving, not armchair detectives, who zero in on people because they happen to be curious about poisoning or some other strange case they heard about in the news.
One could find numerous scenarios which are inert and innocent, which makes them a target of such 'keyword' searches, not to mention confidential information becoming Knowledge to GCHQ, such as medical information, financial information, the list is vast and endless, and lets not forget the actual paranoia, knowing your text or call is being monitored and recorded.
This is an outrage.
Craigzz: Again we have violation of civil liberty under a banner
I have a feeling the abusive flag was pressed by mistake. I pressed the post comment and watched your flag as abusive go too, I didn't touch it! Many apologies. Will contact Huff and tell them now.
Southern_law_girl: I have a feeling the abusive flag was pressed by
Don't worry Mrs May, our Government officials and those in the intelligence service are quite capable of letting out 'sensitive' information by themselves!
A few years ago some may recollect that the newly appointed head of MI6 was dogged by the revelations in the media that his WIFE - yes you heard it correctly - had joined Facebook and placed all her family's details on it! Photographs were included of her husband on a beach in Cornwall, dates of birth of close family and herself, house address and even 'congratulations' of her husband's new appointment by well meaning family members. These personal details were hurriedly removed from Facebook and controls put in place - but not until the press had had a field day! Mind you she may also have a Twitter account?
Nonetheless there is NO secret about GCHQ and what it's capabilities are. For the Government to even attempt to record or 'listen in' to daily information of us all is scandalous.
Sir Tim, however is quite right, in some circumstances details MAY be altered sufficiently by others to create trouble. Plus what about those who do defect from our own intelligencia to join others? It happens.
To bring this to force IS a breach of our Human Rights (as if of course they are not being breached already LOL) but to make it public that they are doing so only creates more problems.
takbisc: Don't worry Mrs May, our Government officials and those in
could you send me your bank details please, aslo details of your last intimate incounter..
i know you will be happy to do this as you have nothing to hide.. thnx.
Alleycatt: could you send me your bank details please, aslo details
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Posted: 18/04/2012 08:14 Updated: 18/04/2012 13:31