In reply to Tim Chappell:
Good examples have been given here. But I'll make my point by talking about Russia.
In the USSR Political and personal freedoms were curtailed.
In Russia personal freedoms have been expanded, but political freedom are curtailed- the right to criticise the Government, form political parties, march, etc.
Putin is gambling that if you give people a few personal freedoms then people will be more liklely to not worry about lacking some political freedomes.
I'm not saying that we are Putins Russia, but I think a similar thing is happening here- giving us all the freedoms that don't cost the Government anything- CRoW, Gay marriage, etc. and tightening up on freedoms that impinge Governments scope for action- snoopers bills, right to protest, photographing the police, and so on.