The Virtual Pub
Come Inside... => The Commons => Topic started by: Grumpmeister on May 20, 2008, 11:10:24 AM
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How many more freedoms are this bunch going to start eroding, pushing ID cards, more CCTV cameras than any other country, detention without trial and now this. Under these plans, the details of every phone call you make and every email you send will be held on a database. And will be controlled under the strictest data protection guidelines.
Yeah, like the guidelines you've used so siccessfully in the apst. Sending out unencrypted disks with personal information on it. If a company had been guilty of such a complete cock up they would have been hammered by the information commisionser but Gordo and co get off scot free.
Actually, given the quality of the work done by their preferred IT companies and the large number of call centres in this country I can see this database lasting about a week before farting and falling over.
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 was a "crucial tool" for protecting national security and preventing 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".
Ok that's fair enough, but that should mean that anyone suspected of criminal or terrorist activities should have their communications monitored IF there is enough evidence to prove a case for such an activity. There should not be a blanket monitoring of everyone in the country, That's wide open to abuse and loss of data due to incompetence.
But the Information Commission, an independent authority set up to protect personal information, said the database "may well be a step too far" and highlighted the risk of data being lost, traded or stolen.
Assistant information commissioner Jonathan Bamford said: "We are not aware of any justification for the state to hold every UK citizen's phone and internet records. We have real doubts that such a measure can be justified, or is proportionate or desirable.
"Defeating crime and terrorism is of the utmost importance, but we are not aware of any pressing need to justify the government itself holding this sort of data."
'Appalling record'
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 also prompted concern from political groups.
The shadow home secretary, David Davis, said: "Given [ministers'] appalling record at maintaining the integrity of databases holding people's sensitive data, this could well be more of a threat to our security than a support."
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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Typical socialist control freakery. This is exactly the sort of "Record Keeping" (albeit brought up to date) that the National Socialist Party (You may know them better as the Nazis) had in Germany and that every police state has practiced since time began ~ All in the name of "Security of the State and People"
We'll be back to passing notes in code in order to have a private conversation before much longer.
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Bill Hicks had a routine that is frighteningly accurate now avout how we have the illusion of freedom because we were happy watching moronic television stuffing pizza down our throats.
What do we have now. The illusion of freedom in this country, moronic 'reality' televiosn shows and the highest consumption of junk food in Europe. Banghead
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Will this create jobs for nosey parkers?
If it's technology based it will be over budget, 5 years late and semi-functional.
Either way, guess who pays! evil:
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This reminds me, frightening as it is, of the story of East Germany after its collapse. Many of the Stasi were dismissed and sought work as taxi drivers.
So, you'd go to get a taxi home... Can you take me to...?
Namen, bitte?
But... ?
Tell me your name... Ve vill know vhere you live...
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lol: