AIBU?
AIBU to wonder if this is true?
Classroomblues · 04/08/2015 19:12
My friend was telling me (so not sure if it's true or she's heard from someone else) that if you use certain buzz words in an email, you could have the police knocking at your door and/or searching your house. 
I knew that emails weren't private but didn't realise such a system of alerting the authorities was in place.
From what she said, I think it's mainly linked to threads of possible terrorism but not totally sure.
I am glad this isn't common knowledge as I'm sure there would be some teens who would do this deliberately just for fun! 
HedgehogAtHome · 04/08/2015 19:40
Aren't they banning whatsapp because it's encrypted?
Given we can now hold a trial in secret and the trial nor the outcome can be banned from being reported on it doesn't seem unfeasable.
I dare say they have people that they watch and if they used certain phrases it would flag but maybe not Joe Public.
travellinglighter · 04/08/2015 20:48
There is some speculation that GCHQ/CIA are/have developed software packages to collect and scan meta data for key words. Bomb, jihad, assassination etc. It’s almost definitely true that they are trying to do it, have they succeeded?? Don’t know. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though. If you do use a trigger word, all it will do is flag up that the word has been used and the e-mail should be read to establish if it’s of interest. If you are constantly using trigger words then it’s likely that you may be investigated. Bear in mind though, the presence of those words in a private communication doesn’t mean they are allowed to read that communication. I’m sure some legal MNer will reassure you that a warrant is still required to tap private e-mails and phone calls.
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 04/08/2015 20:49
certain library books get "flagged", especially if taken out in combination with some others, within a certain time period.
that's nothing new.
I wouldn't be surprised if some words or combination of them might get flagged and stored away. who knows
Prole · 04/08/2015 23:16
It is true and called the ECHELON system. It looks for keywords in all kinds of communication. I'd imagine a jokey reference to bombs or ricin might pique their attention but you'd need to giving them something a bit more substantial for a visit.
Hilariously it was always denied until the EU had to vote for further funding thus revealing it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHELON
techcrunch.com/2015/08/03/uncovering-echelon-the-top-secret-nsa-program-that-has-been-watching-you-your-entire-life/#.02ykrz:wiZz
LurkingHusband · 05/08/2015 15:59
Well, the premise is certainly true ... if you have time for a good read, try here.
In itself, it's all a bit woo. It's when you aggregate the data from all over the place, you start to see pictures. So random emails about bombs aren't going to get a 4am kick. However, if a person of interest is picked up with some suspicious communications and there's other information on them via their movements, who they are talking to, what they are buying etc etc, then you might be straying into one of these fabled terrorist "plots" that are apparently foiled daily.
Anyone who believes they are not being watched by the authorities, or are capable of being watched by the authorities should PM me. I have a bridge for sale.
LazyLouLou · 05/08/2015 16:00
T'is true.
Way back in the late 80s/early 90s we used to have a certain renegade's name in our email signature, just to give them something to do. David Shayler was an MI5 whistle blower and his name was widely promoted as a way of testing the listeners. GCHQs listening post listens for both foreign and domestic traffic, it always has.
I was never sure why it surprised some people until I remembered, I was brought up during the Cold War and Nuclear Clock, so it seemed normal to me 
LadyFlumpalot · 05/08/2015 16:31
A good few years ago I had a boyfriend in the army. I used to stay over in the barracks all the time when I really wasn't supposed to.
One morning there was a knock on the door and a rather angry man with a green beret ordered my boyfriend out for a "word".
He came back in and said to me "I thought you worked for company A? I've just been told you work for company B?"
The scary thing is that although I did work for Company A I had daily dealings with Company B. The only thing the camp had to identify me was my car number plate. Using just that they had managed to dig up enough dirt on me to find out what my rota of jobs was at work!
Since then I've been a firm believer that the mythical "they" know an awful lot about everyone!
.CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 05/08/2015 22:12
RIPA (the legislation covering intercept) was passed in 2000, not 1950
More details on the legal framework here, but if you want to believe we are all being watched all the time - or every time we say "bomb" feel free to adjust your tinfoil hat accordingly...
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