Left Unity condemns sweeping new surveillance legislation

Last week Parliament passed The Investigatory Powers Act, voting in the most sweeping surveillance powers of any country in western Europe and even the USA.  It legalises extensive snooping and hacking by the security services and means that no one now has the right to communicate privately or securely.

Left Unity Principal Speaker Felicity Dowling said:

“We must be able to think, to speak truth to power, to express righteous anger, to research, to debate, to plan, to organise, to protest, to strike. All of this has been restricted by laws passed by the government this week. We stand on rights gained over generations of struggle, rights which were claimed before they were granted.

“Now the Government has taken the right to snoop on our private discussion, our crucial plans. Our freedoms, including our right to organise, are our best defence against terrorism. Snooping by GCHQ and other places will be detrimental to unions and to socialist, environmental and other opposition organisations and we will need to find ways to protect ourselves.

“Just as Prevent has been used against the Left and against BME communities so are we vulnerable to this, even if ostensibly it is aimed at terrorists. For centuries workers have fought for freedom from oppression. Left Unity will continue that tradition and will publicly oppose these laws and will campaign to support victims and to demand
repeal. We appeal for wide solidarity on this crucial issue.”