British government backs down over database plan
April 27, 2009 By JILL LAWLESS , Associated Press Writer(AP) -- The British government said Monday it wants communications companies to keep records of every phone call, e-mail and Web site visit made in the country. But it has decided not to set up a national database of the information, a proposal that had been condemned as a "Big Brother"-style invasion of privacy by civil liberties groups.
The government said in October it was considering a central database of phone and Internet traffic as part of a high-tech strategy to fight terrorism and crime.
But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Monday the plan had been dropped.
A document outlining the department's proposals said the government "recognizes the privacy implications" of a database and "does not propose to pursue this approach."
Instead, the government said it was backing a "middle way" that would see service providers store and organize information on every individual's phone and Internet traffic so that it could be accessed by police and other authorities on request.
The Home Office estimated introducing the new system would cost up to 2 billion pounds ($3 billion).
Under current rules, British Internet service providers are already required to store records of Web and e-mail traffic for a year. The new proposals would also require them to retain details of communications that originated in other countries but passed across British networks - for example if someone in Britain accessed a U.S.-based e-mail account.
Industry group the Internet Service Providers Association said companies would want the government to compensate them for the cost of keeping the data. Secretary-general Nicholas Lansman said the group would hold talks with the Home Office on details of the proposal.
The government said providers would not store the content of calls, e-mails or Internet use. They would retain details of times, dates, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web site URLs.
Smith said officials had to strike "a delicate balance between privacy and security," but insisted police and intelligence agencies needed more tools to fight crime and terrorism in an ever-more complex online world.
"Advances in communications mean that there are ever more sophisticated ways to communicate and we need to ensure that we keep up with the technology being used by those who would seek to do us harm," Smith said.
The proposals are still a long way from becoming law. The government is seeking public comment until July, and widespread opposition is expected.
Chris Grayling, law-and-order spokesman for the opposition Conservatives, said the government had "built a culture of surveillance" and should scale down its proposals.
"Too many parts of government have too many powers to snoop on innocent people and that's really got to change," he said.
The government said there would be strict safeguards on who could access the information, but critics say existing surveillance powers have been abused by local authorities investigating relatively trivial offenses such as littering or failing to clean up dog mess.
That led the government in December to say it would clamp down on abuses of surveillance laws.
Trust in the government also has been hit by a series of lost data incidents. In November, a government department lost a disk that contained the names, addresses and bank details of 25 million people.
©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Dec 21, 2005 |
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This could explain why the British always need us americans help to do anything right...whether that be war, or technology....
I have to admit though, I am not a fan of the British in any way shape or form though. Historically, they screw up everything they touch and touch things they cannot control but think they can.
No offense to any brits in here, you may be fine and dandy, but my experience with anyone from over there is not good, and that includes military and civilian contact with them.
And don't get me wrong, the US is even worse in things like this, and with keeping secrets.....
The true fact is, they are using terrorists as a reason to keep this kind of information, and when it boils down to it, they are the true terrorists...in fact, people we call "terrorists" would not even exist if it were not for these very same governments trying to impose their will onto other countries who have the right to govern as THEY choose, no matter who disagrees with them.
I am reminded of the fact that at one time, ALL americans were considered traitors and terrorists before the founding of this corrupt and religious idealist country called the USA...and all for the belief in a false religion none the less (all religions are false, whether you like it or not...you prove your gods existence, then I will listen)
Back to the subject, I am thankful that the government have decided against this database, not only for the fact it's an intrusion into our privacy but also because the UK government are utterly pathetic at handling records and personal information. Staff allow thier laptops to be stolen and our security is hardly state of the art. Recent example being....
http://news.bbc.c...4420.stm