Forgive the self/Guardian linking, but

Forgive the self/Guardian linking, but there's lots been going on in the UK privacy arena in the last day or two that's worth a look. Stand.org, the pressure group which fought the Regulation of Investigatory Powers bill back in 2000, has reformed, this time to battle against a huge increase in the number of organisations which can demand detailed information on how, when and with whom you are communicating. Everyone from local council bigwigs to Consignia (or the Post Office, as we all know it) can demand the information. As Stuart Millar reports today, Downing Street is defending the move, but the proposals go much further than any other western government has dared, thus far. And here's an interesting piece on how Patricia Hewitt and Harriet Harman, once both fierce civil liberties campaigners, are now part of the government coming up with this Orwellian legislation.