artsicle

PUBLISHED April 5, 2015

by Jess Erickson

Published by Jess Erickson

Jess loves technology, equality and people, which is why she’s 500’s Director of Community. She is also the founder of the global women in tech organization Geekettes. A professional surfer of the web, she’s finally ready to settle back at home after seven years abroad and become an amateur surfer of the West Coast waves.When the partner of journalist Glenn Greenwald was detained at Heathrow airport last August under the Terrorism Act, MI5 were pulling the strings and knew full well that he wasn't a terrorist

On Sunday 18 August, David Miranda, the 28-year-old partner of Glenn Greenwald, was detained at Heathrow airport under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.

The terrorism law, enacted in 2000, is aimed at killers. It is designed to allow police to stop possible jihadists or IRA members planning bombings, as they enter Britain. It is a draconian piece of legislation: no "probable cause" or specific suspicion is needed. The purpose of the stop is a grave one: to assess whether someone may be involved in the "commission, instigation or preparation of acts of terrorism".

Miranda wasn't a terrorist. The