Theresa May and the 1984 Committee are the latest subject to be tackled by re-mixers extraordinaire, Cassetteboy.
Teaming up with Privacy International, the comedy duo have taken a stab at the Snoopers’ Charter – aka the Investigatory Powers Bill – in the latest of a long and lauded line of cut-ups which have previously included The Apprentice, the Tory party conference and Harry Potter.
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning that the video is absolute genius. You’ll laugh, then cry* because it’s frighteningly accurate, then cry with laughter; all whilst fully aware that someone from GCHQ knows you’re watching a video ripping their superiors to shreds.
Pulling no punches, the video mashes up Theresa May’s speech on the IP Bill with The Police’s ‘Every Breath You Take’. It features lyrics like “Every time you go online, every email you sign, I’ll be watching you” and “Every text you send, every Facebook friend, I’ll be watching you.”
Despite the satirical overtone that’s typical of Cassetteboy’s work, there’s a very serious message to the video. As the description says: “If you’re not worried about the Investigatory Powers Bill, you don’t know enough about it.”
The bill – which has been decried multiple times – introduces powers to intercept digital communications and collect bulk communications data – is still going ahead despite its predecessor being ruled illegal in 2015.
Essentially, you don’t have to be a terrorist to give the government a reason to spy on you. Right now, someone, if they so desire, has the ability to see all your nude photos. Which would be funny if it wasn’t 100% true.
More recently, the powers granted by the Snoopers’ Charter – and its American counterparts such as the Freedom Act – have also come under fire from big names in the tech scene.
As well as Apple’s well-documented battle with the FBI, Whatsapp recently took a stand by introducing end-to-end encryption for all messages and data sent through its servers.
For more information about online privacy, see www.privacyinternational.org
*Don’t cry. That’s just weird.
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