"Concerns raised that current US and UK surveillance system is ‘ripe for further abuse under an autocratic, power-obsessed president’ On the campaign trail, Trump made an ambiguous remark about wishing he had access to surveillance powers. “I wish I had that power,” he said while talking about the hack of Democratic National Committee emails. “Man, that would be power.” Privacy and human rights campaigners say a Trump presidency will tip the balance between surveillance and privacy decisively towards the former. The UK surveillance agency GCHQ is so tied up with America’s NSA, it could find itself facing a series of ethical dilemmas. Our concern is not just about the NSA but also the FBI. The next flashpoint over the NSA’s powers will come late in 2017, when a major surveillance law permitting collection of Americans’ international communications is set for expiration"
At www.theguardian.com
