Phone calls database considered
Linky Here From the BBC
Ministers are to consider plans for a database of electronic information holding details of every phone call and e-mail sent in the UK, it has emerged.
The plans, reported in the Times, are at an early stage and may be included in the draft Communications Bill later this year, the Home Office confirmed.
A Home Office spokesman said the data is a "crucial tool" for protecting national security and prevent crime.
Ministers have not seen the plans which were drawn up by Home Office officials.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The Communications Data Bill will help ensure that crucial capabilities in the use of communications data for counter-terrorism and investigation of crime continue to be available.
"These powers will continue to be subject to strict safeguards to ensure the right balance between privacy and protecting the public."
The spokesman said changes need to be made to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 "to ensure that public authorities can continue to obtain and have access to communications data essential for counter-terrorism and investigation of crime purposes".
A number of data protection failures in recent months, including the loss of a CD carrying the personal details of every child benefit claimant, have embarrassed the government.
The plans are likely to provoke outrage among civil liberty groups and some political figures.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called the proposals "an Orwellian step too far".
He said ministers had "taken leave of their senses if they think that this proposal is compatible with a free country and a free people".
"Given the appalling track record of data loss, this state is simply not to be trusted with such private information," said Mr Huhne.
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I don't know where to begin to start with the above.
Technically, how would this be feasible ?
Just how much storage would it take ? (Buying shares in HDD manufacturers might be a good idea).
If it means every email, then that will also mean all attachments as well. Confidential stuff no doubt between companies, solicitors, private individuals, etc.
How secure could they make this ?
All this to protect us from a handful of terrorists ?
Seems a bit overkill to me.
All that will happen if this even got off the ground is that the UK will plunge back in to the information dark ages and people stop using email and phones.
Anyway, it seems a bit of a pointless scattergun approach to get lucky and catch a few terrorists, who will no doubt conduct clandestine meetings face to face anyway. Net result, the whole of the UK is monitored to the eyeballs and terrorists walk around unhindered anyway.
I still cannot believe this proposal.
Why have a new law to target everyone, when the security services can get ISP data and phone information anyway from people under suspicion.
I'm beginning to wonder if the real terrorists are not the ones hiding behind beards with copies of the Koran and 4lbs of high explosives but the ones sitting in Whitehall....
I think I am perfectly justified to use, for the first time ever, my own...
DOOMED !
Linky Here From the BBC
Ministers are to consider plans for a database of electronic information holding details of every phone call and e-mail sent in the UK, it has emerged.
The plans, reported in the Times, are at an early stage and may be included in the draft Communications Bill later this year, the Home Office confirmed.
A Home Office spokesman said the data is a "crucial tool" for protecting national security and prevent crime.
Ministers have not seen the plans which were drawn up by Home Office officials.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The Communications Data Bill will help ensure that crucial capabilities in the use of communications data for counter-terrorism and investigation of crime continue to be available.
"These powers will continue to be subject to strict safeguards to ensure the right balance between privacy and protecting the public."
The spokesman said changes need to be made to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 "to ensure that public authorities can continue to obtain and have access to communications data essential for counter-terrorism and investigation of crime purposes".
A number of data protection failures in recent months, including the loss of a CD carrying the personal details of every child benefit claimant, have embarrassed the government.
The plans are likely to provoke outrage among civil liberty groups and some political figures.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called the proposals "an Orwellian step too far".
He said ministers had "taken leave of their senses if they think that this proposal is compatible with a free country and a free people".
"Given the appalling track record of data loss, this state is simply not to be trusted with such private information," said Mr Huhne.
***************
I don't know where to begin to start with the above.
Technically, how would this be feasible ?
Just how much storage would it take ? (Buying shares in HDD manufacturers might be a good idea).
If it means every email, then that will also mean all attachments as well. Confidential stuff no doubt between companies, solicitors, private individuals, etc.
How secure could they make this ?
All this to protect us from a handful of terrorists ?
Seems a bit overkill to me.
All that will happen if this even got off the ground is that the UK will plunge back in to the information dark ages and people stop using email and phones.
Anyway, it seems a bit of a pointless scattergun approach to get lucky and catch a few terrorists, who will no doubt conduct clandestine meetings face to face anyway. Net result, the whole of the UK is monitored to the eyeballs and terrorists walk around unhindered anyway.
I still cannot believe this proposal.
Why have a new law to target everyone, when the security services can get ISP data and phone information anyway from people under suspicion.
I'm beginning to wonder if the real terrorists are not the ones hiding behind beards with copies of the Koran and 4lbs of high explosives but the ones sitting in Whitehall....
I think I am perfectly justified to use, for the first time ever, my own...
DOOMED !
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