Terror law puts Britons at risk of surveillance by US agents

[Andre II]

Source: Observer

"A new law swept through Congress by the US government before the summer recess is to give 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?"'

Read more: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2151942,0...

[msongs]

1. let's all thank some democratic congresspersons and bush for this nt

[MuseRider]

2. Well maybe there will be

someone in the British government who has the guts to stand up to this. Sorry my friends, not enough here do.