UK government about to start monitoring personal data on social network sites

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

That is only true if the state is trusted to provide both.

Really?

If the state only deals with security issues, he necessarily can only do so at the cost of freedoms. It is a side-effect you cannot avoid.

If the state only is about guaranteeing freedom, security will be compromised, agaion as an unavoidable side-effect.

It does not matter whether the state is the only actor, or shares responsibility for both factors with some other player.

And who should that other player be? Private business...? If so, then help us God (if that is not a hidden irony in there...) Private business minds it's own interests only, that's in it's very nature in a capitalistic order. where it should provide security, you have business lobbies formulating future laws and regulations. you have security companies, from parkdeck-guards to mercenary corporations. And where business is seen as a function to influence culture and shape of a society for more freedom (ignoring for a moment how that freedom from a business-oriented perpsdeltive gets defined: the trade with rare African ores in civil war regions, or blood diamonds, also is understood to be liberal trade), business will necessarily try to ease security barriers in order to get a greater liberalisation of the market (and eventually it nevertheless will demand protectionistic measures to shield itself from unwanted competition reducing it's profits).

So I cannot see in what way your remark is relevant.