-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: August 19, 2007 7:28:27 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: George Bush, GLOBAL "Big Brother"
Terror law puts Britons at risk
of surveillance by US agents
Jamie Doward, home affairs editor
The Observer (UK), August 19, 2007
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2151942,00.html
A new law swept through Congress by the US government before the
summer recess gives American security agencies unprecedented powers
to spy on British citizens without a warrant.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was approved by Congress
earlier this month to help the National Security Agency in the
fight against terrorism. But it has now emerged that the bill gives
the security services powers to intercept all telephone calls,
internet traffic and emails made by British citizens across US-
based networks.
As much of the world's telecoms networks and internet
infrastructure runs through the US, the new act will give the
security services huge scope for monitoring and intercepting
Britons' private communications, as well as those of other foreign
citizens. The new act has led to fears it will see a huge increase
in the number of British citizens being extradited to the US.
'Just because it happens to pass through the US they claim they can
do whatever they want,' said Tony Bunyan, director of Statewatch,
the civil rights group that campaigns against state surveillance.
'Where is the EU saying, "What's going on here, we've got to
protect the rights of our citizens?"'
The Dutch Liberal Democrat MEP Sophie in 't Veld has tabled a
series of questions demanding answers from the EU parliament. In a
statement to European politicians, In 't Veld warns the US law will
'directly apply to EU citizens and constitutes a major violation of
privacy and civil liberties'.
The law has prompted a furore in the US, where it was opposed by
Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But other countries
seem ignorant of its consequences. 'There's been a lot of upheaval
in Congress about this new act over fears Bush will use it to
eavesdrop on US citizens,' In 't Veld said. 'But it can and will be
used for the communications of Europeans.'
She pointed out many companies and organisations are based in the
US and that the new law will give the US powers to monitor their
communications. 'For example, I would like to know what sort of
communications go via the UN,' In 't Veld said.
Concern over US powers to monitor foreign citizens is growing.
European privacy watchdogs have expressed fears that the US
authorities are to be handed powers to check the personal details
of travellers entering America and store them on databases
alongside details such as their sexuality and religious beliefs for
up to 15 years. The watchdogs, including the Information
Commissioner of England and Wales, Richard Thomas, have been
scathing in their criticism of the European Commission for granting
the US its demand for the new powers.
In a coded statement the Information Commissioner's office
yesterday acknowledged concerns that the privacy of some four
million Britons who travel to the US each year is at risk because
of the new powers.
'We will continue to work alongside our European data protection
colleagues to try to ensure that airline passengers' details are
protected by the appropriate data protection safeguards,' a
spokeswoman told The Observer.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
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