Big Brother?

Government officials dismiss worries of privacy being infringed by pointing out that this is innocuous information that can already be accessed by investigating agencies. But unlawfully accessed,a citizens surfing history,phone lists and

income tax details can be used to intimidate,coerce and blackmail. Even in the hands of a vindictive state official,they could be used to harass,especially if the intention is to grind an axe or blackmail. These are not idle concerns,these are very real worries that the proposed national intelligence grid must answer well before it gets off the ground.

The tension between civil liberties and national security exists in every liberal democracy. The question will always be asked: how much personal freedom are we willing to give up to feel more secure. But the question is nuanced and the tension subtle. Rigorous checks on what information is pooled,on what grounds agencies can ask for it,and what the punishment is for leakage,would go a long way in protecting privacy as well as enabling the intelligence agencies to do a more efficient job. Claims of national security operate on public trust,trust that the government will not use it as an excuse to infringe on a citizens liberties. The national security grid must,therefore,not dismiss the need for checks.