Are western ‘democracies’ becoming Big Brother surveillance societies? The House of Lords has produced a major study of the issue, with lessons for Australia: here’s an expert precis of it by Dr David Murakami Wood, as well as reference to the full report.
‘Best parliamentary report on surveillance’
My expectations of the work of the House of Lords Constiution Committee have generally not been disappointed. This report – ‘Surveillance: Citizens and the State’ – is probably the best parliamentary report on surveillance I have ever read, and if only half of the recommendations are given any attention by the government, then Britain will be a much better place. However it is not only relevant to Britain…Reading this report should serve to disabuse others of any notion that Britain is a good example.
(Wood’s analysis)
http://ubisurv.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/lords-report/
House of Lords report:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldselect/ldconst/1 8/1802.htm