Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights

How private is your private life?

How would you feel if the content of your emails, texts, calls, social media messages were routinely stored and processed by the Government and retained for future use?

Well, it seems they are.

In June 2013 the Snowden leaks revealed that GCHQ has access to the transatlantic cables that carry the world’s communications and is intercepting and processing billions of communications every day and sharing the information with the US.


This includes recordings of phone calls, the content of email messages, entries on social media sites and the history of an internet user's access to websites. All without public acknowledgement.


The project – Tempora – has been in existence since the beginning of 2012. The leaks also suggest that the US authorities have similarly breath-taking and direct access to global communications via the world’s biggest internet companies. This secretive programme is known as PRISM and reports suggest that the UK also accesses this data. 


In May 2013 the Draft Communications Data Bill was notable by its absence from the Queen’s Speech. It would have required internet and phone companies to retain records of our calls, emails, texts and web visits.  

It now appears those who failed to make the case for the Draft Comms Bill already smuggled a more intrusive Snoopers’ Charter for blanket surveillance through the back door.

Liberty has filed a claim against the British security services for their role in PRISM and Tempora. We will be lobbying and campaigning for urgent amendment to the outdated laws governing surveillance and an end to blanket surveillance of the population. Please donate or join Liberty today to ensure this vital campaign work continues.

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