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Government must make case to public for surveillance state, says Theresa May Theresa May admits government has failed to win public's support for surveillance
(about 14 hours later)
Theresa May has, for the first time, acknowledged that the British government has failed to get the public to understand its case for the use of surveillance to tackle national security threats in the wake of revelations of mass harvesting of personal data by Britain's GCHQ and the US National Security Agency.Theresa May has, for the first time, acknowledged that the British government has failed to get the public to understand its case for the use of surveillance to tackle national security threats in the wake of revelations of mass harvesting of personal data by Britain's GCHQ and the US National Security Agency.
The home secretary admitted to defence and security experts that individual privacy and mass surveillance by the security services had become "a much more salient question for the public in the last year or so". Under questioning, she agreed that the public lacked any real understanding of the role intelligence played in tackling threats, including organised crime.The home secretary admitted to defence and security experts that individual privacy and mass surveillance by the security services had become "a much more salient question for the public in the last year or so". Under questioning, she agreed that the public lacked any real understanding of the role intelligence played in tackling threats, including organised crime.
May said the Home Office and security chiefs must "find innovative ways" to make their case to the public about the security services' activities in the wake of disclosures by Edward Snowden, a former CIA contractor.May said the Home Office and security chiefs must "find innovative ways" to make their case to the public about the security services' activities in the wake of disclosures by Edward Snowden, a former CIA contractor.
"There is a need to get out there more generally the importance of intelligence in fighting all of these national security threats. We will try to find innovative ways of getting the importance of these activities to members of the public," she said. "People talk about national security versus civil liberties, but you can only enjoy your liberty if you have security.""There is a need to get out there more generally the importance of intelligence in fighting all of these national security threats. We will try to find innovative ways of getting the importance of these activities to members of the public," she said. "People talk about national security versus civil liberties, but you can only enjoy your liberty if you have security."
May told the Royal United Services Institute, in London, that she thought it necessary to revive her "snooper's charter" legislation to safeguard the capability of police and security services to access communications data – which enables tracking of everyone's internet and mobile phone use.May told the Royal United Services Institute, in London, that she thought it necessary to revive her "snooper's charter" legislation to safeguard the capability of police and security services to access communications data – which enables tracking of everyone's internet and mobile phone use.
Her draft communications data bill was blocked by Nick Clegg last April and is unlikely to be reintroduced before next year's general election, but May described the need to address declining capabilities in regard to communications data as one of "big decisions" that remained for government to take. Whether Scotland Yard should remain in charge of the national co-ordination of counter-terrorism policing was another "big decision" that needed to be taken in government.Her draft communications data bill was blocked by Nick Clegg last April and is unlikely to be reintroduced before next year's general election, but May described the need to address declining capabilities in regard to communications data as one of "big decisions" that remained for government to take. Whether Scotland Yard should remain in charge of the national co-ordination of counter-terrorism policing was another "big decision" that needed to be taken in government.
The home secretary's admission that the government has not been winning the battle of public opinion over the use of intelligence during an off-the-record question and answer session after her speech.The home secretary's admission that the government has not been winning the battle of public opinion over the use of intelligence during an off-the-record question and answer session after her speech.
A former senior Whitehall security and intelligence official said they had failed to persuade the British public of the role that intelligence and surveillance played in tackling serious crime. He said the public had no idea or understanding of the care that was taken by the system to safeguard privacy.A former senior Whitehall security and intelligence official said they had failed to persuade the British public of the role that intelligence and surveillance played in tackling serious crime. He said the public had no idea or understanding of the care that was taken by the system to safeguard privacy.
He even suggested May publish anonymised versions of covert surveillance and phone-tapping warrants she had signed as home secretary to demonstrate the need for the checks and balances that were in place.He even suggested May publish anonymised versions of covert surveillance and phone-tapping warrants she had signed as home secretary to demonstrate the need for the checks and balances that were in place.
May responded by predicting such a suggestion would be met with a "sharp intake of breath".May responded by predicting such a suggestion would be met with a "sharp intake of breath".
She said that communications data had been used in 95% of investigations of organised crime cases in the past 10 years but had also proved crucial in prosecutions.She said that communications data had been used in 95% of investigations of organised crime cases in the past 10 years but had also proved crucial in prosecutions.