This isn't a snoopers' charter / Guardian, 1 July 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/01/civilliberties.law?gusrc=rss&feed=politics
Geoff Cahill
"Can there be any piece of legislation that has been more misunderstood than the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act? As nightmarish folk tales of people being bugged over dog poop began to reverberate across the blogosphere, the accusations mounted: it was "illiberal", "draconian", "a snoopers' charter" or even (bewilderingly) "anti-terrorism legislation". It seems that Ripa has developed a serious image problem, which is a great pity because it was conceived with some very good intentions. Unfortunately, it credited those for whom it was enacted to regulate with slightly too much intelligence and restraint."