In weeks following the UK elections, we now have a new coalition government. I thought it might be worth reflecting back on some of the freedoms that we have enjoyed in the past, but seem to have lost in recent years. Have you ever joked about doing something that is illegal and didn’t really mean it? Are you sure? You’ve never jokingly said something like “I could just strangle Paul right now”? Don’t worry, we know you didn’t really mean it – or do we?
In recent news, a 26 year old man now has a criminal record, lost his job, and was fined after tweeting a joke about blowing up an airport because he was frustrated that it was snowed under. And in other news, a photographer was recently stopped & searched under Section 44(2) of the Terrorism Act for taking pictures in a public place. Something that many of us have done, or will do at some stage I imagine?
One could take the view of being offended that our integrity is being questioned, based on the premise that we might commit an offence in the future. If you’ve ever seen the movie Minority Report, you could be forgiven for worrying that we are taking a step nearer to the concept of a “pre-crime”. Ok, maybe that’s a bit extreme, but it does help highlight the real question: how much are we willing to give up in return for our common safety? It would help to at least know where the line is so that we don’t accidentally cross it when taking pictures of our family at a shopping centre.
Over the last decade, I wonder if we have paid for some of our safety and security by trading our liberty? Generally speaking, wide-ranging powers are more likely to accidentally catch “innocents” than legislation that is specifically targeted at unwanted behaviour – see the Terrorism Act for an example. One could also argue that the Digital Economy Act was going the same way before it was revised and passed into law.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety – Benjamin Franklin
Many of us enjoy taking pictures with digital cameras and the ease of sharing information over the internet. If we want to continue to enjoy that openness, we have to ensure that our voices are heard just as loudly as those who are shouting for more safety. There are several really easy ways to raise concerns with local and national government, and they don’t even involve you leaving your seat:
- Contact your MP – you can easily do this online at http://www.writetothem.com/ and it is just as good as writing a letter. From personal experience, a good MP will respond within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Start or sign a petition on the Number 10 website at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk. Usually if a petition has 500 signatures or more, it will be passed to officials who work for the Prime Minister at Downing Street. Search for "photography” or “digital”.
Both parties in the UK’s new coalition government have sympathies towards greater civil liberties and are even starting to repeal legislation. Now is the time to lobby them with your wants & concerns. The next decade will hopefully see us all keep the liberties that we currently enjoy and hopefully even get some of them back.
