Does the British government spy on it's citizens and if so,how?

Question

Is it really true that they can take a "closer look" at you based on some website you look up or some snitchy gossip spreading stuff about you?

or your political leanings?

Answer 1

with little robotic insects....

Answer 2

In simple terms, yes. The British government has more powers of surveillance, covert or otherwise, than most other governments. Equally, by virtue of the large number of CCTV cameras on this crowded isle, you're more likely to be subject to unobtrusive surveilliance without your knowledge than with it.

As technology increases, with facial recognition or vehicle number plate recognition software linked with CCTV for example, the ability of the government to intrude upon every area of our lives increases. Equally, private companies utilise data warehousing techniques to store, indefinitely, every item of information they obtain on you so that they may 'profile' you in terms of your profitability, your probability or purchasing certain goods etc.

During the last general election both of the major political parties admitted to using profiling software to predict the likelihood of individual voting behaviour and to target their mailshots and door-stepping campaigns accordingly. That's quite aside from the regulation of investigatory powers act, which basically lets an environmental health officer request access to your bank account. I exagerate, but only slightly.

The introduction of National Insurance Numbers was not some altruistic act of the Welfare State - it was a response to the post war government attempting to resolve GCHQ's filing problem by giving everyone a (supposedly) unique number. The irony is of course that as the population has grown, the numbers are no longer unique.

Since the 1960's the American and other governments have been using software to check certain 'keywords' used in telephone conversations and to red-flag individuals who use words in certain combinations. The advances in voice-recognition software and computer processing power since the 1960's mean that you should pretty much assume that if you're making a phone call in either the US or the UK someone somewhere either in Langley USA or Cheltenham, UK has the potential to eavesdrop you if your conversation takes a turn towards the undemocratic and you wouldn't even know it.

Duncan Campbell wrote a pretty good article 18 years ago, about the state of the technology at that time which I've linked below. Draw your own conclusions about its development in the near two decades since....

Answer 3

It is highly likely that Yahoo Answers is used to make profiles of many, possibly all people who use it, in UK or US. Just imagine the information that will be on file on everyone, including the young people of today, the questions they asked and the answers they gave, in twenty years time. I have no doubt it is a fact, that is why I think the world of the British Government, Tony Blair and George Bush. Not forgetting the Russian and Chinese leaders and.........................................

Answer 4

throughout recorded history almost all governments have been run by, in essence, tyrants. most have been quite homicidal when they deemed it to be in their best interests. most tyrants are not kind, compassionate, enlightened human beings, eh? also, most people who "rise to the top" tend to be, at least, sociopaths. not good news for the peasants. that is also true in the case of democracies. just review the behavior of your "elected" officials. and, so, that's where we are today, across the planet. those in power do what ever it takes to remain in power and become richer. the peasants are expendable and of no concern to the elite, unless they become an annoyance. in that case they are appropriately dealt with. those in power serve first themselves and their "friends", that anything "trickles down" is probably only due to negligence.:-)

Answer 5

Yes. Their law enforcement uses different methods, because it is operating under a different set of laws than (for example) the US.

The British legal system has other safeguards and protections, but operates significantly differently than the US system.

The article below explores some of the differences in law enforcement and civil protections afforded by both systems.

Answer 6

Oyster cards, NHS cards. the metal strip in monetary notes, birth certificates(compulsory), internet spyware, National Insurance number with employer, National Insurance Number unemployed, P45,P60, Security Industry Licensing, driving license, photocards for colleges and schools and universities, tv license, land registry, electoral register, phone tapping, special provisions under "d" classification notice, etc.

Answer 7

This the real Big Brother!

Room 101 is waiting for YOU!

Answer 8

Yea

Answer 9

The organs of the British govt would not be so daft as to let you know about it if they did.

Answer 10

The telescreen in the wall.

Answer 11

Do you not know about the hidden cameras in every pc monitor ever sold!