Despite the change in political leadership, the U.K. government's approach to security and surveillance continues to echo past policies.
Following the Southport riots, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's response mirrors the previous Tory administration's focus on expanding mass surveillance and tightening restrictions on free speech.
The Southport riots have prompted calls for increased surveillance and police state measures, with a renewed emphasis on tackling "misinformation" and purported "foreign meddling." (Related: UN’s Antonio Guterres unveils global game plan for surveillance, control and censorship.)
Yet, the underlying issue appears to be more domestic: Starmer, now at the helm, is advocating for enhanced mass surveillance, particularly through facial recognition technology and increased censorship of social media platforms.
Starmer's announcement follows a pattern of intensifying demands for surveillance, a trend criticized by rights groups like Big Brother Watch, which have long denounced such measures as "Orwellian."
Starmer's plans include broader deployment of facial recognition technology
In a news conference addressing the far-right riots, Starmer referred to the protesters as "thugs" and compared them to football hooligans. He outlined plans for a more integrated police network involving intelligence and data sharing, alongside a broader deployment of facial recognition technology.
The aim is to implement "criminal behavior orders" to restrict the movements of individuals before they even board a train, similar to the measures used against football hooligans.
These movement restrictions are intended for individuals with prior convictions or those involved in violent protests. However, even those charged with minor offenses like disorderly conduct could face surveillance and movement restrictions.
Starmer has indicated that new laws are unnecessary, believing the existing legislation is sufficient. He asserts that these measures target "violent disorder," not protests per se, and attributes the incitement of such disorder to online platforms. Starmer views certain online speech as incitement to violence, framing it as a criminal offense rather than a matter of free speech.
The criteria for what constitutes incitement to violence remain ambiguous, especially since some lawmakers and officials have blamed "misinformation" and "speculation" regarding the Southport stabbing attacker. This raises concerns that even legitimate questions or speculations could be categorized as misinformation, potentially leading to broader censorship of online discussions.
Starmer's approach involves collaborating with online platforms to address these issues, but the specifics of this cooperation are yet to be clarified. The details of how this "coordinated effort" will unfold between government representatives and internet platforms remain uncertain.
Civil liberties groups, including Big Brother Watch, have criticized Starmer's plans for increased facial recognition surveillance.
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, condemned the proposal as "alarming," arguing that it undermines democracy rather than protecting it. She highlighted the inaccuracy of live facial recognition technology, its prevalence in countries like Russia and China and its lack of legal grounding in the U.K., noting that it is banned in other parts of Europe.
Carlo also criticized Starmer for not addressing the root causes of the Southport attack or the "violent, racist thuggery" that followed. She described the emphasis on AI surveillance as "tone deaf" and suggested it fails to inspire confidence in the government's ability to address the underlying causes of these crimes and protect the public effectively.
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Watch this video of Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing that his government will deploy mass surveillance in the United Kingdom.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
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