> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A new portal for Liberty - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/a-new-portal-for-liberty/ - Published: 2009-01-25T13:01:57.000Z - Updated: 2019-02-14T22:42:39.000Z - Author: Tom Griffin - Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:49 **Tom Griffin (London,** [**OK**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom)**)**: The Guardian's new [Liberty Central](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral?ref=opendemocracy.net) website looks likely to become an invaluable resource for those concerned about the erosion of civil liberties. It features a very useful [events page](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/series/noticeboard?ref=opendemocracy.net), as well as a powerful aggregator of related content from across the Guardian's output. Here's a sampling of today's stories: 1. ### [Explainer: Identity cards](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/explainer-identity-cards?ref=opendemocracy.net) The identity-card plan has a long history. Michael Howard was in favour in his days as home secretary in the 1990s and, when Labour came to power, Jack Straw floated the idea of a "citizen's access card" 2. 8.09am [Police](http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/police?ref=opendemocracy.net) ![British Transport police searches](https://cdn2.opendemocracy.net/media/original_images/Trains140x84Ianni-Dimitrov-Alamy_qX0QaMx.jpg) British Transport police searches ### [British transport police](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/british-transport-police-crime?ref=opendemocracy.net) Boo hiss to the British transport police who want blanket powers to search any train passenger as part of a crackdown on knife crime [ 1 comment ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/british-transport-police-crime?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 3. 8.44am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Ringing the liberty bell](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/civil-liberties-liberty-central?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Georgina Henry:** If you're concerned about the erosion of our rights, take a look at liberty central, Comment is free's new civil liberties site [ 96 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/civil-liberties-liberty-central?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 4. 8.33am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ![Rachel North](https://cdn2.opendemocracy.net/media/original_images/Rachel-North_thumb_uLgN0dH.jpg) Rachel North ### [Video: Rachel North on the erosion of civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/video/2009/jan/22/rachel-north-civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ![Video](https://cdn2.opendemocracy.net/media/original_images/icon_video_f7wJD0V.gif) Video Video (2min 00sec), **Video:**The 7/7 survivor discusses her views on the erosion of civil liberties in Britain and what has been sacrificed for our personal freedom [ 88 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/video/2009/jan/22/rachel-north-civil-liberties?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 5. 8.14am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Can you argue the case for a UK database state?](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jan/22/civil-liberties-data-computer-security?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Henry Porter:**Who, in government or outside it, can coherently tell me why it is a good idea to sacrifice our liberty and rights? There's money in it [ 278 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jan/22/civil-liberties-data-computer-security?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 6. 8.20am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [The struggle against forgetfulness](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/civil-liberties-legislation-guide?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Afua Hirsch:** Protecting our civil liberties demands constant vigilance – but our new guide to legislation published under Labour will help [ 11 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/civil-liberties-legislation-guide?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 7. 8.09am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Explainer: Data sharing](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/explainer-data-sharing?ref=opendemocracy.net) For the past decade, the government's policy on data protection has pulled in opposite directions. New data protection law gives citizens more say over what organizations, including public bodies, do with their personal information – a right covered by [Article 8](http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/EN/Treaties/html/005.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) of the European convention on human rights 8. 8.08am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Explainer: Terrorism legislation](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/explainer-terrorism-legislation?ref=opendemocracy.net) Since Labour came to power in 1997, it has introduced five major pieces of terrorism legislation: Terrorism Act 2000; Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; Prevention of Terrorism Act 2004; Terrorism Act 2006; Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 9. 8.31am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Question one: Stop and search](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/19/stop-and-search-civil-liberties-law?ref=opendemocracy.net) **James Welch: Liberty Clinic:** Heresiarch asked our advice after he was questioned by a community support officer while taking photographs in public [ 13 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/19/stop-and-search-civil-liberties-law?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 10. 12.01am [Human rights](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/humanrights?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [In 2009, the fight for liberty is about to go up a gear](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/22/shami-chakrabarti-modern-liberty?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Shami Chakrabarti:** The courageous tone set by the US president must serve to inspire us in the struggle to defend the Human Rights Act here [ 85 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/22/shami-chakrabarti-modern-liberty?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 11. 3.00pm [Control orders](http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/control-orders?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [A life under curfew](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/22/control-orders-justice?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Victoria Brittain: Did you know ...** the extraordinary restrictions a control order places on the suspect and their family? [ 43 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/22/control-orders-justice?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 12. 1.00pm [Data and computer security](http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/data-computer-security?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Too much information](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/jack-straw-data-sharing?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Alan Travis:** A pilot data-sharing scheme overrides confidentiality safeguards on everything from our health records to tax affairs [ 13 comments ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/jack-straw-data-sharing?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net) 13. 8.09am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ![Watching football is not a crime](https://cdn2.opendemocracy.net/media/original_images/watchingfootballisnotacrime_vfEuR3j.jpg) Watching football is not a crime ### [Football Supporters' Federation](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/football-supporters-federation?ref=opendemocracy.net) Wrestling apologies from the police and fighting for the rights of football fans, the FFS is an unlikely new civil liberties crusader 14. 8.31am [Civil liberties](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) ### [Come to the Liberty Clinic](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/19/liberty-clinic-civil-liberties?ref=opendemocracy.net) **Liberty Clinic:** Your opportunity to ask questions about civil liberties and human rights to be answered by Liberty's lawyers [ 11 comments](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/19/liberty-clinic-civil-liberties?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net)[ ](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/19/liberty-clinic-civil-liberties?commentpage=1&ref=opendemocracy.net)