Increase of privacy software suggests rising concern of online surveillance in the UK.
This is a piece from 2017, but the sentiment still stands. The examples may be a few years old but the problem not only persists — it’s got worse. Privacy has always been at the core of Maidsafe’s work — and it’s a fundamental element of the SAFE Network.
The UK ranks near the top of the internet freedom index, but are UK citizens waking up to the potential threats to privacy? Perhaps aware of the legislative changes here and around the world we are questioning the way both governments and commercial organisations access our personal information.
Citizens in other jurisdictions are often given no, or limited Internet access to certain websites. These Internet shut downs typically occur when a government intentionally disrupts access to the Internet and/or electronic communications to control the information that can be accessed by its populace. It is no surprise that we see a rise in these markets of privacy tools, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), as individuals seek to maintain freedom of speech. Sadly it is even possible to argue there is a correlation between the adoption of VPN technology and the attempts to circumvent the controls of oppressive regimes. Perhaps more worryingly for us in Western democracies, though, is evidence of VPN technologies being adopted here in increasing numbers. VPN provider NordVPN confirmed that UK customers using the service had doubled in the last few months of 2016, while ExpressVPN have experienced a ‘steady increase in signups from UK customers’. Surely it cannot be a coincidence as the UK and US Governments seek to pass more draconian surveillance laws and the repealing of protections for consumers?
Throttling the Internet
In 2015 there were 15 documented shutdowns, increasing to 56 in 2016, according to Access Now, a digital human rights defender with countries ranging from Algeria to Zimbabwe all limiting Internet access. Turkey has shut down Facebook, Twitter and Youtube on multiple occasions, but most noticeably as opposition political leaders were being arrested in November 2016. In this case, the government was reported to have slowed down access to certain sites to the point where they become unusable, termed ‘throttling’, in order to suppress media coverage to avoid civil unrest.
Virtual Private Networks
VPN software can be used as a way around Internet shut downs as some enable the user to redirect their online activity to a computer in another country in a process called ‘tunneling’. Use of this software was recommended by one of the opposition during the 2016 Ugandan elections.
However, VPNs are also used to keep user IP addresses (a unique identifier assigned to each computer) private from the websites a user visits.
In the UK the desire to keep their internet activity hidden is becoming increasingly important due to the Investigatory Powers Act, nicknamed the ‘Snoopers Charter’ by privacy advocates. The legislation, which was passed into law in November 2016, expands the powers of the intelligence services in the UK, enabling them to:
- Legally carry out bulk collection of all communications, require ISPs to retain all the sites we have visited for 1 year.
- Provide access to that information to around 50 public bodies that can access this data without a warrant, including the Food Standards Agency.
When we consider that ISPs also get hacked, remember Talk Talk, then it is easy to understand why an increasing number of us are considering using a VPN.
Encryption is “completely unacceptable”
The Investigatory Powers Bill is not the only concern for privacy advocates. In January 2015, then Prime Minister David Cameron called for a ban on encryption in order to “ensure that terrorists do not have a safe space in which to communicate.” He back peddled a few months later when it was pointed out that encryption actually keeps many of our online transactions secure and private. However, there has been another U-Turn as home secretary Amber Rudd suggested encryption is “completely unacceptable” if the UK government cannot read encrypted messages. As many experts pointed out again to Amber Rudd, inserting backdoors in encryption are not only there for government agencies to exploit, they are also there for what Donald Trump might call the “bad dudes” to also exploit.
The UK is not the only western country to be introducing legislation that threatens the privacy of its Internet users. Only last week the House of Representatives voted to allow US ISPs to not only start selling their users browsing habits, but to do so without the consent of their customers. What is at stake is clearly explained by House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi, “This resolution would not only end the requirement you take reasonable measures to protect consumers’ sensitive information but prevents the FCC from enacting a similar requirement.” (By the way senators supporting the bill have received over $1.7billion since 2012 from ISPs).
With President Trump signing the bill into law this week, Google searches for VPNs has surged by around 25% in the US in the last month. While each search is unlikely to equate to a new VPN user, it seems reasonable to assume that their use is likely to rise.
We are a long way from the oppressive tactics of many of the world’s authoritarian regimes, but there are distinct signs that users both here in the UK and the US are increasingly concerned and are taking matters into their own hands. Many are prepared to take action to protect these fundamental rights, so is it not about time government listened? If government fails to listen to this expression of discontent we could end up in the bizarre situation where government has created a new challenge for its security services to deal with rather than improving how they protect citizens.
