Britain's Digital Reformation

There are striking parallels between state survelliance in the Tudor age and today.

Anti-Catholic engraving of the Gunpowder Plot, early 17th century. Bridgeman/Private CollectionIt is clear that in much of the developed world we are living in a period of widespread and intensive personal surveillance. The ‘Wikileaks’ revelations and the secret documentation made public by the exiled whistleblower Edward Snowden have shown the extent to which the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) have been routinely intercepting and analysing much of the world’s telephone and Internet communications. This involves searching for key words suggestive of terrorist or criminal activities or determining the links between suspected terrorists and criminals.

To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.

Buy Online Access  Buy Print & Archive Subscription

If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.

Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.