--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st…" description: "\"Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security and democracy is a prize worth fighting fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg" --- # Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which… ![“Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security and democracy is a prize worth fighting for, and Labour will work constructively with the government to achieve it.” quote by Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg) > “Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security and democracy is a prize worth fighting for, and Labour will work constructively with the government to achieve it.” [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates modern surveillance laws that protect privacy while ensuring security and democratic values. **In simple terms:** Balancing privacy, security, and democracy is essential. Key Takeaway Seek balanced legislation. Themes privacy security democracy law politics Mood concerned optimistic Type political policy When to use this quote - government negotiations - public consultations - legislative drafting Key Concepts civil liberties state surveillance policy design Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure accountability in surveillance? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Balancing security and privacy can be politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Surveillance legislation passed in good faith has been stretched well beyond its original purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/surveillance-legislation-passed-in-good-faith-has-been-stretched-well/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/the-safety-and-security-of-our-democracy-demands-competent-civilian/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [I think most people accept that it is necessary to have some surveillance in a democratic society. I think most people accept that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-think-most-people-accept-that-it-is-necessary-to-have-some/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“Maybe the Indirect Surveillance thing cost him brain cells. Good thing he was so pretty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kellison/maybe-the-indirect-surveillance-thing-cost-him-brain-cells-good-thing/) [Erin Kellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kellison/) > [Republicans don't want to shrink government. They want more and more military, more and more surveillance. They'd like to have the government banning gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/republicans-don-t-want-to-shrink-government-they-want-more-and-more/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [“Converting the Internet into a system of surveillance thus guts it of its core potential. Worse, it turns the Internet into a tool of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/converting-the-internet-into-a-system-of-surveillance-thus-guts-it-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [We all deserve credit for this new surveillance state that we live in because we the people voted for the Patriot Act. Democrats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-all-deserve-credit-for-this-new-surveillance-state-that-we-live-in/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“A friend once told me a story about a former Black Panther leader in a Midwest community who in the 1960s had his phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-j-rodr-guez/a-friend-once-told-me-a-story-about-a-former-black-panther-leader-in/) [Luis J. Rodríguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-j-rodr-guez/) > [“The evidence shows that assurances that surveillance is only targeted at those who “have done something wrong” should provide little comfort, since a state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-evidence-shows-that-assurances-that-surveillance-is-only-targeted/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I think we're probably only about halfway through the number of revelations. I'm pretty certain there will be quite detailed stuff on other uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/i-think-we-re-probably-only-about-halfway-through-the-number-of/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) ## More by Keir Starmer > [We have to call out terrorism for what it is, and I have always done that, and the Labour Party has always done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/we-have-to-call-out-terrorism-for-what-it-is-and-i-have-always-done/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [If you lose your job because there has been an influx of labour from another country, that is a legitimate cause for concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/if-you-lose-your-job-because-there-has-been-an-influx-of-labour-from/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [When I was the director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, I had staff working at the Eurojust HQ in The Hague 24/7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/when-i-was-the-director-of-public-prosecutions-between-2008-and-2013/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [As we exit the E.U., there must be a new approach to immigration that has the consent of the British people and is managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/as-we-exit-the-e-u-there-must-be-a-new-approach-to-immigration-that/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [So if you want a really effective criminal justice strategy, you don't build bigger prisons, you invest money in young kids - and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/so-if-you-want-a-really-effective-criminal-justice-strategy-you-don-t/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I think the first what would happen in the immediate wake of a hard Brexit is a lack of confidence in UK economy. 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Sentencing is very important, but the debate obscures something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-been-discussed-only-in-the/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [In the absence of honesty from the Conservative party leadership, it is Labour's duty to spell out the very real consequences of a no-deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/in-the-absence-of-honesty-from-the-conservative-party-leadership-it/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Just when we need a strong government, what do we see? Division. Chaos. And failure. No credible plan for Brexit, no solution to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/just-when-we-need-a-strong-government-what-do-we-see-division-chaos/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I believe Britain's response to Brexit must be based on core progressive values: internationalism, cooperation, social justice and the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-believe-britain-s-response-to-brexit-must-be-based-on-core/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [There is a world of difference between not disclosing fine detail and relying on broad and generalised assertions. 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We're very good at listing things we don't much like about what the Tories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/you-don-t-win-elections-by-telling-people-what-you-re-against-we-re/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Britain outside the E.U. would be less able to respond with the speed and strength we need to tackle complex and growing cross-border threats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/britain-outside-the-e-u-would-be-less-able-to-respond-with-the-speed/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) [Explore all 105 Keir Starmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## More Balance quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. 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I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [Once you've gotten your money in balance, you know how much you have to spend on things that are just fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/once-you-ve-gotten-your-money-in-balance-you-know-how-much-you-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. 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Five hundred miles an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-it-comes-down-to-music-i-have-no-balance-i-am-100-percent-it-is/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) [Browse all 5,166 Balance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security and democracy is a prize worth fighting for, and Labour will work constructively with the government to achieve it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keir Starmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21st-century-which-strikes-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21st-century-which-strikes-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/keir-starmer-4888_balance_surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21s_257806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security…” — Keir Starmer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Keir Starmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21st-century-which-strikes-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21st-century-which-strikes-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```