Online liberties crushed by Big Brother government

Campaigners have hit out at European governments and the US for being too extreme when it comes to monitoring and controlling the internet in the wake of last year's terror attacks in the US.

Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders says Western governments have used 'counter-terrorism' rhetoric as a smokescreen for rushing through increased surveillance powers or justifying existing monitoring measures already in place.

A report published by the organisation warns ISPs are in danger of becoming an online branch of a global 'secret police force' - recording the web surfing habits of their users and monitoring the emails they send and receive.

The report claims Western governments have forced through new snooping powers - such as the UK's Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) - with an agenda hidden behind a public face of concern.

Speaking to silicon.com earlier this year, Dr Ian Kearns, senior research fellow at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), echoed these fears.

Kearns said: "If the government doesn't explicitly defend personal liberties then these may be swept away by the growth of new technologies."

However, Kearns said it is a situation which calls for careful compromise. While warning that a government can be over-officious - to the point of opening itself up to 'Big Brother' allegations - he said a certain level of data harvesting may be acceptable if it is seen to result in improved services.

"If I want better services from my government, then maybe I have to accept that the state knows more about me," he said.