Big Brother - McDowell must be stopped

THE eyes and ears of Big Brother, as in Orwell’s 1984, will soon be focused on phone calls made by the average Joe Soap, plus all other forms of electronic communication, if Justice Minister Michael McDowell has his way.

Along with a hard core of ministers from France, Sweden and the UK, he is involved in spearheading a bid to introduce unparalleled surveillance of society throughout Europe. If the plan goes ahead, every electronic communication, ranging from computers to telephones, mobile phones, faxes and even text messages, will be logged. Companies will have to keep records for anything between 12 months and three years.

Reminiscent of the paranoia that triggered America’s ill-conceived War on Terror in the wake of the September 11 atrocity, this latest initiative would cover all internet data, every search undertaken, every file downloaded and every purchase made.