Category Archives: Human Rights

A few words on equality…

Posted on May 20, 2013 by

Back in the 80s, I was a young accountant working in the City, for what was then one of the very biggest firms of accountants in the UK. This was the height of Thatcherism, where greed and selfishness were pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Politics | 3 Comments

Even wankers have rights….

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

It’s easy to allow people we like to have rights. Indeed, it’s more than easy – we want to do it. We want to hear what people we agree with have to say. We want to give our friends privacy … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights | 5 Comments

The Snoopers’ Charter: we need a new consultation

Posted on March 25, 2013 by

The Communications Data Bill – more commonly (and fairly accurately) known as the ‘Snoopers’ Charter’ is due to re-emerge at any moment. We have been expecting it for some time – and yet have seen nothing official, and there has … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of expression, Hacking, Human Rights, Privacy, Snoopers charter, surveillance, Vulnerability | 1 Comment

Choose your dystopia…

Posted on November 19, 2012 by

(See also Choose your dystopia Part 2 – here) I’ve always been a great fan of dystopian fiction – nightmarish visions of where our society is heading. I started reading them in my teens – well before the year 1984 … Continue reading →

Posted in Future, government, Human Rights, Privacy, Snoopers charter, surveillance | 9 Comments

A wake up call?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

A couple of years ago I was teaching a class in IT law, and the subject of surveillance came up. I tried not to let my own opinions colour the debate, and listened while one student after another talked quite happily … Continue reading →

Posted in CCTV, data retention, Human Rights, Internet, Privacy, surveillance | 15 Comments

The politics of privacy

Posted on April 13, 2012 by

Why is it that despite what looks like very strong public hostility, together with a powerful media opposition, the proposed UK government surveillance programme, the Communications Capabilities Development Programme (a description of which can be found on the Open Rights Group … Continue reading →

Posted in data retention, government, Human Rights, Internet, Nick Clegg, Privacy, Privacy International, surveillance, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

If you build it, they will come…

Posted on April 4, 2012 by

The proposed new surveillance programme – the Communications Capabilities Development Programme - in the UK has many disturbing aspects – from the whole idea that ‘security’ justifies almost any infringement of privacy to the re-emergence of the fundamentally flawed ‘if you’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in data retention, Human Rights, Internet, Vulnerability | 5 Comments

Big Brother is watching you – and so are his commercial partners

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

Today, President Obama unveiled a proposal for an internet ‘bill of rights’: “American consumers can’t wait any longer for clear rules of the road that ensure their personal information is safe online,” said Mr. Obama. In a lot of ways, … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Online Behavioural Advertising, Privacy | 4 Comments

The Internet IS a (Human) Right…

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

It isn’t often that I find myself disagreeing with something that Vint Cerf, one of the ‘fathers of the internet’ has said, but when I read his much publicised Op Ed piece in the New York Times, I did. First … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Internet, Internet access, Privacy | 12 Comments

A tale of three conferences…

Posted on September 15, 2011 by

IT Law certainly seems to be flavour of the month. Even more particularly, it seems to be flavour of the next couple of days. Today and tomorrow there are three conferences on different aspects of the subject, all of which … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright, Creative Commons, Human Rights, Piracy, SCL | Leave a comment