UK.Gov considering database detailing every phone call and e-mail

[edesignuk]

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 preventing crime. BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7409593.stm).

Oh joy of joys. Another horrendously expensive IT programme to completely cock up, and then lose all the data from.

I know, tax us some more to pay for it. Awesome.

Sleep easy fair citizens, all your data are belonging to us! ....unless we can't find it, in which case we never had it, ok?

http://up.edesignuk.com/files/1/Images/Smilies/Dogeyes.gif

[iBlue]

I thought I left the US. :confused:

[Eraserhead]

When the government can't keep something "simple" like say the child tax credit details private how in the world are they going to do this? On email alone I have nearly 10000 messages. So that makes the database 10000x larger :eek:.

[Jaffa Cake]

Luckily, we can trust the Government to keep proper care of our sensitive data, and ensure that there's no possibility – either intentionally or through carelessness – of it falling into the wrong hands.

Oh... hang on a minute. We're talking about the Government, aren't we? :rolleyes:

[remmy]

And there will be those people saying if you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear. Those people worry and irritate me so much.

[Gelfin]

I thought I left the US. :confused:

Well, you were told about it, so take comfort you're still getting a better class of "service" than we are, from a government with a deep appreciation of the people's fundamental right to know exactly how they are being violated by their government.

[Much Ado]

Well, you were told about it, so take comfort you're still getting a better class of "service" than we are, from a government with a deep appreciation of the people's fundamental right to know exactly how they are being violated by their government.

Yes. Think of it as like a burglar giving you ten minutes notice to vacate the premises before breaking your door down.

[remmy]

Although I do wonder if it will include spam and newsletter emails and annoying telesales.

[xUKHCx]

Although I do wonder if it will include spam and newsletter emails and annoying telesales.

If it didn't it would be completely pointless as what determines something as spam? It would be plenty easy enough to hide a message inside a spam email etc.

I hope this doesn't go through.

[leekohler]

How much longer before a "V for Vendetta" scenario?

[PlaceofDis]

How much longer before a "V for Vendetta" scenario?

in the US or the UK?

i think they're racing one another there to be honest.

[xUKHCx]

How much longer before a "V for Vendetta" scenario?

What I pay £6 to see a rubbish film ;)

I hope our MPs have the backbone to object to this.

[zioxide]

1984 wants its database back.

[sreedy]

If it didn't it would be completely pointless as what determines something as spam? It would be plenty easy enough to hide a message inside a spam email etc.

Agreed, it'll be everything, and that is the fact that will make these data stores HUGE!

[Gelfin]

Although I do wonder if it will include spam and newsletter emails and annoying telesales.

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[leekohler]

in the US or the UK?

i think they're racing one another there to be honest.

Pretty spooky.

[PlaceofDis]

Pretty spooky.

yeah, and i might be a bit cynical, but all the technology that we've gained just seems to be used more and more for control rather than a better purpose.

[big_malk]

It's not exactly hard to get a Pay & Go SIM card, or open a free email account with phoney details. The only criminals they'd catch with this are the really really stupid ones who would get caught anyway.

They can already access this data anyway with a warrant, this would just cost huge amounts of money, cause huge problems, and be a huge waste of time. Sounds like a government plan all right!

[riscy]

I think that since the introduction of Project Echelon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Echelon), the UK has been the listening post for the USA to the rest of the world, IMO.

And it is also a testing ground for technology like CCTV which would never get as much acceptance in the USA (true, it is probably happening there, but on a much smaller scale and without people being so aware), see here (http://tash.gn.apc.org/cctv-survcp.htm) for a clever middle finger project.

in the US or the UK?

i think they're racing one another there to be honest.

As far as I am concerned the UK won the race and the US is on the previous lap.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Won the race for Big Brother.

[edesignuk]

If only they could guarantee this sort of security (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7409519.stm), but they would never get it right.

[big_malk]

If only they could guarantee this sort of security (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7409519.stm), but they would never get it right.

I read that earlier, interesting read.

If they went ahead, they probably would get some private company to run it, and expect it to be like that. But they'd hire the company with the lowest bid, then turn a blind eye when they cut corners, and end up with very substandard results.
Like the private prison service where guards watch a man beaten to death on CCTV, because they didn't have enough staff working to be allowed to intervene by their own rules. Sickening.

[arkitect]

A Home Office spokesman said the data is a "crucial tool" for protecting national security and preventing crime.

To paraphrase Mme Roland…

"Oh national security, what crimes are committed in thy name."

This government is long gone down the slippery slope.

[Iscariot]

They can ask AT&T for pointers.