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It is common knowledge that corporations have the ability to track and gather data from digital sources for the purpose of targeted marketing. However, Kate Stonehill’s documentary focuses on traditional state surveillance, particularly a troubling program in the UK known as “Phantom Parrot.” This involves remote monitoring of mobile phone usage.
Stonehill’s movie also explores the concept of schedule 7 under the 2000 Terrorism Act in the UK. This provision grants authorities the ability to conduct searches of individuals at border checkpoints without requiring specific reasons to suspect involvement in terrorism. This legislation predates the invention of smartphones, but it allows police officers to request that detainees provide their device passcodes and PINs, with the consequence of potential prosecution and a three-month jail term. Despite the fact that a majority of our information is stored on external servers and in the cloud, there are still certain things that may only be found on the phone itself, which is where most of us store our entire lives.
In 2016, Muhammad Rabbani, who serves as the international director of Cage – an organization that advocates for the rights of Muslims affected by anti-terrorism laws – faced a similar fate. While returning from Qatar, he was detained for refusing to disclose his PIN. Despite not being convicted of any crime, citizens can now be prosecuted for simply exercising their right to privacy and expressing valid concerns about the confidentiality of others.
Gareth Peirce, a well-respected human-rights lawyer, portrayed by Emma Thompson in Jim Sheridan’s 1993 film In the Name of the Father, represented Rabbani. In the film, Peirce is seen addressing various human-rights organizations and emphasizing the need to not become desensitized to abuse by the government. She states, “The ability to be shocked is crucial.” However, even in 2015, when the director of Cage’s research, Asim Qureshi, publicly referred to Islamic State’s killer, Mohammed “Jihadi John” Emwazi, as a “beautiful young man,” many people still had this ability. This film sheds light on the ongoing battle over privacy in the digital world.
Source: theguardian.com
