Declan McMullen’s excellent site has a link to a new expansion of wiretapping and logtapping (what else would you call it?) powers in the U.K.
Apparently they are giving every local Animal Control Board rights to read your email.

It extends the list of public authorities that can issue RIP s22 notices
(ie to access traffic data from telcos and ISPs)…
…to add the following central Government departments
1. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
2. The Department of Health.
3. The Home Office.
4. The Department of Trade and Industry.
5. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
6. The Department for Work and Pensions.
7. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern
Ireland.
AND pretty much any local authority
8. Any local authority within the meaning of section 1 of the Local
Government Act 1999
9. Any fire authority as defined in the Local Government (Best Value)
Performance Indicators Order 2000
10. A council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc.
(Scotland) Act 1994
11. A district council within the meaning of the Local Government Act
(Northern Ireland) 1972

This isn’t how to win a war on terrorism, this is the way to create a Stalinist state.
Even a liberal like me can see that.