An open letter to the UK Government on digital privacy
8 hours ago
- #UK government
- #surveillance state
- #digital privacy
- The UK government is implementing a range of surveillance measures including mandatory device scanning, VPN bans for under-18s, broken encryption, and universal identity disclosure for internet use.
- Mass surveillance tools such as live facial recognition cameras are being deployed despite high error rates and legal challenges, and the government has attempted to force tech companies like Apple to weaken encryption for all citizens.
- The Investigatory Powers Act, Online Safety Act, and Children's Wellbeing & Schools Bill are expanding surveillance powers, with the latter using child safety as a pretext for invasive measures that threaten privacy and free speech.
- Experts including cryptographers and security researchers warn that these measures are technically infeasible and dangerous, with alternatives like zero-knowledge proofs being ignored, and privacy frameworks like GDPR are being dismantled.
- Surveillance disproportionately harms vulnerable groups and undermines democratic freedoms, and the author, a long-time Labour supporter, has withdrawn support due to the party's role in building an invasive surveillance state.