UK govt 'spying' on Assange

Cameras erected outside entrance of his temporary home in Ellingham Hall

PTI | June 17, 2011



The British government has been accused of spying on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, sparking an outrage among civil rights campaigners in the country.

A video released by WikiLeaks claim that three cameras have been erected outside the entrance of his temporary home in Ellingham Hall, Norfolk, to keep track of people visiting him.

"We suddenly noticed them appearing since we have been here. We believe they are monitoring everything that goes in and out of the property," Sarah Harrison, one of the WikiLeaks' team, was quoted as saying in the video, titled 'House Arrest', published by Telegraph online.

"I am not an expert on cameras but I believe that these take number plates and report number plates. I think the country is full of them but I don't know why I need quite so many of them around my house," said Vaughan Smith, the owner of the Ellingham Hall, where Assange moved into in mid-- December as he fights extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual crimes.

The 39-year-old Australian has denied charges.

But the clamp on his movement and spying on his visitors has sparked an outrage, with civil liberties campaign groups slamming the government.

"Regardless of the allegations made against Mr Assange, he has not been charged with any crime," said Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch.

"For his movements and those of his visitors to be monitored in this way constitutes an outrageous invasion of personal privacy. These cameras must be removed immediately," he demanded.

Comments

 

Other News

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter