Do we forgive the spy agencies for what they did in the past?

[Jeneral2885]

The monitoring of your calls, emails, texts etc is nothing new---that's what spy agencies have do during the Cold War, World War II, World War I and in times past. People only known are angry about it because it appears (via the media and social media) that these agencies are reading into our private lives. But that's the very definition of spying as I said, and its not like your grandfather and fathers calls, telegrams et were not read as well. Why are we angry now, just because of Snowden et al? We knew that was the case during all wars and peacetime (since its is in history books) why are we so angry now?

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. No, they were not casually reading the average citizen's post in peacetime

Nor listening in to our phone calls in peacetime. And I'm unaware of them keeping the phone records of whom we all called. I don't think it was routine during the Cold 'War' either.

"that's the very definition of spying"

And they are not meant to spy on British non-suspects during peacetime.

[Jeneral2885]

2. How do you know?

they weren't reading communications back then? Where is your data?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Because it would have cost billions

since it could not be automated, as they can now do with electronic communication.

[dipsydoodle]

9. Just censoring troop mail was probably a big enough bind in itself.

My mother and doubtless countless others , didn't know where for example my father was or even had been for 2 1/2 years until he showed up at the front door out of the blue following cessation of hostilities.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. The invasion of privacy is far more pervasive and broad

and mostly without a shred of defensible cause.

Also, the installation of back doors and weakening of encryption WILL be picked up by the real bad guys and be used against us. Spying on your own people leads to abuse of the power, and sows (justified) mistrust of authority.

To me this is a variation of the "if you have nothing to hide" argument, which is utterly bogus.

[Jeneral2885]

5. and as if

this hasn't been done before in the past?

[LeftishBrit]

6. In general, No, we don't.

Espionage on enemy activities for real defense purposes is one thing, but spying on everyone just-in-case is another.

For example, J. Edgar Hoover was very much hated, and with good reason.

Of course, there is more spying now, because there is more powerful technology. And people in the early and mid-20th century did not send e-mails and texts, and only a minority made phone calls.

[Jeneral2885]

7. Let me try again

1) So back then, there was only spying on enemies because of the backward technology then?

2) Now, with advancement in technology, the agencies have the propensity to spy on everyone?

Let me try again, so back then, GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 knew who they enemies were. Now, do they or do they not? And if they do not, is it wrong to try to look at the haystack to find the needle (the enemy?) Now if they ca't find the enemy now, they must not and never not look at the wider hay?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Yes, it is wrong to go on fishing expeditions against people you have no evidence against

It's an invasion of privacy, like opening people's post.

[tjwmason]

10. Forgive isn't the right word

One can only forgive a person, not a corporate entity; and forgiveness is supposed to follow contrition on the other person's part...also one cannot forgive when one has not been wronged (you seem to be implying that we have not been wronged).

When Eisenhower warned about the rise of the military industrial complex in the U.S. it was about a body which comes into being for a good reason (which we commemorate today); but then takes on a life of its own. This is very much the case with the 'War on Terror', and its promotion of ever greater intrusion into our lives.

When my grandfather's letters home were read from northern France and Germany that was because he was a serving soldier - I am a civilian. I have never done anything which should arouse suspicion of any desire to overthrow our system of government or the peace of our land (or any other land for that matter)...the same is true of the vast vast majority of people, who it appears have been subjected to what you openly call 'spying'.