see url:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-2830256/Inmate-MP-phone-calls-recorded.html
Is an example of breach of M.P./ client privilege between a prisoner and his M.P.
Much legislation and codes of practice covers the confidentiality between M.P.s and their constituents, and between M.P.s and other departments. Great emphasis is placed on protecting constituents under the Data Protection Act for instance.
However, mass surveillance in the form of collection of metadata and content without a warrant is subject to GCHQs definition of "proportionality". I am all for stopping terrorists in their tracks, or catching them out before they do any damage, but to surveil a whole population to do so...seems a bit much. But that is the course of action that the world's governments are taking...at a greater and greater speed.
So, if a constituent had a problem with whom to go to over a complaint, say about a GCHQ employee committing a wrongdoing of some kind and went to his/her M.P. for advice on how to proceed, because they were frightened and wanted to remain anonymous...what would prevent GCHQ from looking at all the elements of that consultation between the M.P. the constituent, and other Government Departments or Law Enforcement? What would stop them from passing on such confidential information to people who shouldn't be entitled to receive it...and where does this leave the informant in terms of his identity being protected
Being able to do this could open up all sorts of cans of worms regarding protection of the GCHQ civil servant, the government and the rights of the constituent...
There is a danger that avenues for consultation and providing information will be closed off to ordinary individuals between themselves and the executive, unless anonymity and the opportunity to conduct exchanges of information are protected...pro-actively, and breaches considered more seriously.
If people are too frightened to consult, it won't be long before the executive starts to get out of touch and tyranny due to misunderstanding and misconceptions take over. It is bad enough at the moment...and the way things are going...can only get worse.
