This week, WikiLeaks – working in association with Bugged Planet, Privacy International and media organizations from six countries – released a first selection of documents revealing the international trade in mass interception of phone and email communications, citing 160 companies by name
Across the world, mass surveillance contractors are helping intelligence agencies spy on individuals and ‘communities of interest’ on an industrial scale.
The Wikileaks Spy Files reveal the details of which companies are making billions selling sophisticated tracking tools to government buyers, flouting export rules, and turning a blind eye to dictatorial regimes that abuse human rights.
The largely unregulated trade revealed in the Spy Files is a matter of life and death for activists engaged in the struggle for real democracy in the Middle East, but it also represents a clear and present danger to all those living and working in Western societies, whether they are involved in political activity or not.
Speaking at the WikiLeaks press conference on Wednesday, security researcher and human rights activist Jacob Appelbaum, said: “We can go after these companies by simply telling the truth about what they do and the harm they have caused… Who watches the watchmen? It’s us, the 99%”
Veterans for Peace call for support action at the High Court on Monday
On Monday 5 December – the same day that a debate about the merits of the European Arrest Warrant is held in Parliament – Julian Assange will be in court to ask that his appeal be heard in the Supreme Court. If he is refused leave to appeal, then he will be extradited to Sweden.
Veterans for Peace UK have called for a support action outside the High Court in London from 8.30am.
Matthew Horne, a member of Veterans for Peace and supporter of Occupy London said:
“Julian Assange supports us and we feel that we should do the same. Assange gave us a whole new perspective on how our governments work behind closed doors with countless illegal acts including kidnapping, crimes against humanity, renditions, murder and much more. We owe it to him to show that he is not alone.”
Notes:
[1] WikiLeaks – The Spyfiles http://wikileaks.org/the-spyfiles.html
[2] Bureau of Investigative Journalism – Phone tracking – http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/12/01/in-video-phone-tracking/
[3] Veterans for Peace on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/veteransforpeace.org.uk
[4] Information on the Parliamentary debate, including a template letter to MPs: http://www.swedenversusassange.com/Action.html
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