Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

> “The ISC is spinning the facts in an attempt to condemn US technology companies for not spying on their customers,” said Eric King, deputy director of Privacy International, the UK-based right to privacy charity. “Law enforcement should have powers to intercept and acquire communications when necessary, but deputising private companies to do it for them is not the right answer.

> “It is not appropriate for internet services — who handle some of our most private and sensitive correspondence — to be snooping through that data for the police, anymore than it would be for the postman to snoop through peoples' letters.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/new...

I know BBC tries to remain neutral, but why is it that almost always when we see a post like this, that serves as a platform for UK government's propaganda, it seems to come from BBC?




Did a senior representative of Privacy International really just advocate a position where the only technically possible solution is to give governments the power to monitor everything and forcibly prohibit the use of any technology that would prevent that from being achieved? Surely that must have been taken out of context somehow.


For a platform for the "government's propaganda" the BBC report is prepared to voice some pretty blunt criticisms of it...

> Isabella Sankey, director of policy for Liberty, said: "The ISC shamefully spins the facts seeking to blame the communications companies for not doing the agencies' work for them."

> Executive director of the Open Rights Group, Jim Killock, said: "To pass the blame to internet companies is to use Fusilier Rigby's murder to make cheap political points."

In that respect, it's actually more critical of the government position than the equivalent article from the newspaper that broke the Snowden story: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/25/lee-rigby-rep...


The BBC doesn't try to be neutral, it tries to be "balanced", which in their view means giving equal time and weighting to both sides of an issue. It's lunacy.


What would you do differently given the authority?


Do journalism. Find the facts. Anyone can simply transcribe statements from "both sides"; that is not a useful service.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: