View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Paddy Ashdown calls for inquiry into ‘erosion of our liberties’ exposed by Guardian in Snowden revelations

By Darren Boyle

Former special-forces soldier and Liberal Democrat peer Paddy Ashdown last night called for a “proper inquiry” into the level of state-sponsored spying exposed by The Guardian.

Ashdown said individuals or groups should only be monitored by the security services if they represent a risk to the country.

Before moving into politics, Ashdown worked as an intelligence officer. In an interview with the Guardian he said he remembered spies steaming open letters with boiling kettles in the 1960s.

Ashdown said the state should only intercept or monitor communications “in cases where there is good evidence to believe the nation's security is being threatened, or arguably, when a really serious crime has been committed".

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats said the entire nation should not be targeted by this blanket surveillance and any proposed bugging should be authorised by a judge or a cabinet minister.

He said: ”We need a proper inquiry to decide what liberties and privacies ought to be accorded in the new interconnected world, and what powers of intrusion ought to be given to the state. The old laws that applied in the age of the steaming kettle will no longer do. The old protections are no longer good enough."

Ashdown praised the Guardian over its reporting of the Snowden files as it “had raised this important issue to the point where sensible people understand this inquiry is now necessary.

Content from our partners
Unified solution offers publishers unrivalled print and digital efficiency
How DPG Media invested in print technology to help it focus on digital
How to make sure you are social media ready for job hunting

"People today seem more casual about their privacy than they used to be. They don't seem to mind when their privacy is breached when they use Google, Facebook and other social media."

Ashdown said he was extremely concerned over the “erosion of our liberties”.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network