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Woah, what's going on here?

Many people's lives are in their portable electronics.

Your smartphone, netbook, USB drives, media players -- they all contain crucial collections of data that not only speak to who you are but also constitute invaluable information that few of us can afford to lose or be without for any period of time.

So spare a thought for Samuel Blackman whose plight is highlighted in this NZH story.

If regular NZers ever needed more proof that this country is run by, for and in the interests of Uncle Sam, I think this story delivers it.

Am I the only one who thinks that this is an absolutely outrageous situation that ought not be tolerated in a free and democratic society?

What ever happened to "the presumption of innocence"?

Oh, that's right, I momentarily forgot that this archaic concept died long ago -- even before our privacy was surrendered to the state in return for some promised but not delivered "security".

Now you would think, and expect, that Kiwis would be up in arms over this utter abuse of someone's rights.

But no... as has sadly become the case, it's another case of "thank goodness it wasn't me -- and what's for tea?" as 4.4 million sheeple simply ignore the elephant in the room.

Come on, if we're going to allow the authorities to strip someone of their cyber-life simply because of a tweet then heads need to roll in the corridors of power (oh, that's going to ensure that *I* get a digital inspection next time *I* pass through Customs for sure!).

Are we to start punishing those who dare to voice opinions that are concordant with people who have upset the US administration now?

Have we even lost the pretense of free speech in this country now?

I certainly hope that Mr Blackman has used hard encryption to protect his personal and private information from the spying eyes of those who appear to be doing the bidding of the US government, right here on Kiwi soil and under the Queen's name.

Of course,to be fair,it *is* possible that Customs has a very real reason to suspect this guy of being engaged in activities that are against NZ law. Yet somehow, I seem to find that rather unlikely. After all, if you were trying to smuggle kiddy-porn or engage in other illegal activities, would you really want your name and situation plastered all over the mainstream media?

And let's not forget -- the TPPA now seems to have bilateral support from both the Nats and Labour.

To put things succinctly: We're stuffed mate -- and God save our new American overlords!

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