Comment Articles

Privacy under threat

Guy Kewney AnchorDesk

Published: 29 Oct 2001 15:44 GMT

It would be a strange sort of idiot who prevented a fireman from putting out a fire in the house because the front door key was missing. You'd break the door down yourself.

And it would be an odd citizen who, faced with a real terrorist threat, refused to help police apprehend the terrorists on the grounds that the terrorists were "entitled to their privacy."

So I'm perfectly delighted to hear that the UK's internet service providers (ISPs) have been helping "law enforcement" bodies with their surveillance of suspected terrorists. I don't want my city destroyed by suicide bombers who don't care who they hurt.

But let's go back to that house fire. Let's assume that the fireman breaks down my front door - indeed, that I eagerly give him the axe with which to do so. And he puts the fire out; and then he says:

"By the way, I may be back some time in the future, and I might want to break down your door. That won't be a problem, will it?"

Well, not if the house is on fire, no! Nor if there's a gas leak. But if the fireman said: "No, it might be for any reason I think sufficient," then I'd want to ask a few more questions.