Well things just keep getting better and better with regards to privacy and the internet.

A few years ago we could all look at what ever we wanted, download what ever we wanted, send email without anyone else knowing what it said unless they got sent the email, chat to our friends via messenger services, access social networks without the fear that they were going to misuse your information, and various other things. Well this seems to be coming to an end now, especially in the UK at least.

The first step the government took to breaking our personal right to privacy was concealed under the banner of protection. They could order the ISP you get your internet connection from to store all email sent, and received on there servers to be reviewed later if they felt it was needed. This then changed to every email is to be scanned for certain words, or phrases as far as I know, I may be wrong on that one but if that is true surely that’s a HUGE infringement on our personal rights!

Until recently that was all the government had the power to do, however now it seems that they want to completely monitor ALL web traffic for everyone with an internet connection in the UK. This move is to apparently monitor for torrents of music files which has been pushed by the record labels, however it is common knowledge that file sharers actually buy more than non file sharers. Have the labels shot themselves in the foot by helping to push this move? I think so.

The ISP now not only has to store emails but all web traffic packets from people for it to be scanned to see if any of these torrent packets exist. If they do exist then the government is pushing for the ISP to disconnect the customer from their internet service immediately no questions asked, which a lot of people are massively against, ISPs and customers alike. There is also talk of the three chances scheme which will give you three chances to stop sharing files, and if you carry on then you get disconnected.

Personally I think that the government should stop trying to control everything and everyone and let us live our lives with the privacy we should have, but don’t anymore!

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