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03 Jan 2009
The UK government is planning to use a private company to run its proposed database of every phone call, text, email and web site visit.
In a proposal from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, the task of collecting and maintaining the records would be given to a private firm in order to reduce costs.
The proposal also suggests tough legal penalties if the data is misused, according to a report in The Guardian.
However, the proposals have come in for strong criticism, not least from Sir Ken Macdonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions.
"This database would be an unimaginable hell-house of personal private information," he said. "It would be a complete readout of every citizen's life in the most intimate and demeaning detail. No government of any colour is to be trusted with such a roadmap to our souls."
The government is planning to build the database to help in criminal investigations. Currently service providers hold the details of their customers, but the government has deemed this too inefficient and plans to spend £12bn on a new combined database.
"The tendency of the state to seek ever more powers of surveillance over its citizens may be driven by protective zeal. But the notion of total security is a paranoid fantasy which would destroy everything that makes living worthwhile," said Macdonald.
"We must avoid surrendering our freedom as autonomous human beings to such an ugly future. We should make judgements that are compatible with our status as free people."
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Do you agree?
Who can we vote for?
Which party can we trust with our freedom? Certainly not Labour. I imagine the Tories will either be the same or even worse when it comes to looking after our interests. The Lib Dems? Will we ever have a governent we can actually trust? If we let this happen, where will this country be in 10 years time?
Posted by: Jason from Brighton 06 Apr 2009
madness
It's hard to believe that a labour government plans things like these. And it's even more scaring that the alternative is pretty more authoritarian. Britain the first democracy in Europe does not deserve that status anymore. It's all so sad.
Posted by: Jack 05 Jan 2009
Its Our Private Business
This is so so wrong. We should be allowed our privacy.
Posted by: emma 05 Jan 2009
Unbelievable...
The day this database goes live is the day I leave this country.
Posted by: Ed 05 Jan 2009
lol - Labour Government
How far are we going to let this government go? Our data is not safe now. Let's not let this happen!
Posted by: caroline 05 Jan 2009
The human right to privacy?
Is this not in contravention of one of the inalienable international human rights,...that is to say, the right to privacy?
Posted by: David 05 Jan 2009
private bidding
No doubt if this happened a US company would win the contract. Under US anti terror laws ANY information held by ANY US company ANYWHERE in the World MUST give that info the the US authorities when requested, so much for our security of privacy!!!!
Posted by: Alan 04 Jan 2009
Competence?
How many private companies have been given access to our private details and how many have failed to saveguard that information? How much more information will this government give away before these cabinet ministers are declared "not fit for purpose". NO we do NOT need another botch company hacking into our lives. The money would be far better spend in dealing with the human rights violations in the world - starting here where our rights and freedoms which are being eroded!
Posted by: Sissy Astoria 04 Jan 2009
Government tracking of internet/ texts and phone calls
If you have nothing to hide and are not up to no good.. you have nothing to worry about and our streets will be safer.. I'm not perfect and I don't lead a perfect life but I'd rather the Government nosey in on my life if we can lessen the threat of bad people
Posted by: Simon 04 Jan 2009
Can we trust a private firm to not sell our data on to the highest bidder?
Can we really trust these private firms to look after our private information. I don't want my private data being sold to other companies. Only the police and an official government body should be given access to our private data. Also will the companies use the data in such a way that ensures they make a profit, for example how private companies already mislead over parking fines. I'm quite sure it would be in the interest of the private company to make out somebody has flouted the law by accident just to ensure they get paid for their work, or attempt to mislead the consumer as happens with parking signs to ensure the end consumer accidentally breaks the law. Then force the consumer to pay up or be penalised if they try and fight it.
Posted by: Darren 04 Jan 2009
Nazis
I am waiting for the I have nothing to hide brigade. Everyone has something to hide. Even you! This is pure facism. This government has to go. Any way we can.
Posted by: Len 04 Jan 2009
More Lies
Obviously this is just a ploy such that when the inevitable database leak happens, the government can shift the blame to this private company instead of themselves.
Posted by: Max 04 Jan 2009
What cost?
Just how feasible is this database? Is it possible? How much will it cost the tax payer and will it just become another waste of money.
Posted by: Will Pemberton 04 Jan 2009
There goes a little bit more privacy...
The approach of treating everyone like a potential terrorist is getting ridiculous. Why don't we open everyone's snail mail, too? Hell, let's go one step further, and put cameras in every home, 1984 style. I love how, in a supposed democracy, we all get remarkably little say in how our country - and our lives - are run. Democracy is an illusion, and now, so is privacy.
Posted by: Robert Stone 04 Jan 2009
Sleepwalking
The Brits...already the most observed people in the world, are now threatened with a Government who wants to know and possess details of every citizen's private life. Are we entitled to privacy????????????
Posted by: chris 04 Jan 2009
Reality?
In reality this system cannot work, you are either going to find terrorists/criminals before they strike or apprehend terrorists/criminals after they have struck (which in the case of terrorism is a bit pointless especially if it is a suiside attack). In order to actively monitor 60 million people you would need at least 45 million people employed! (who can identify different languages), terrorists/criminals will adapt, computer systems will fail and data will get lost.
Posted by: Anthony Clayton 04 Jan 2009
Labour & Communism
Apart from agreeing whole heartly with the author of the above statement, is this not a further sign of new/old red/left wing control, even the Stasi could not have imagined in their wildest dreams such invasion. Security i hear you cry, Please remember "National Security is the cry of the oppressor". What about my rights, maybe it is time for a bill of rights as opposed to the erosion of my right to privacy and civil liberties.
Posted by: Damian McSorley 04 Jan 2009
Inept and untrustworthy Labour Government
On past and present form I would not trust this administraion to look after any information about myself or my family .They are only competant in pedaling lies and deceit ,look at our countries financial situation which they are responsible for and no one else.As far having responsability for private information NO NO NO and having experience for many years in Local Government and being involved in transfering work to the Private sector result total disaster and incompetance of these companies in running these services
Posted by: john bellmore 04 Jan 2009
I can't believe its come to this in the uk
I can see about a billion ways such info is already being abused giving it to a company you are having a laugh the problem is not enough coppers who speak tech. What is the eu doing its giving the go ahead to its own evil internal army of snoopers instead of clearing corruption from the halls of power. When will they learn.
Posted by: jonny bond 04 Jan 2009
Internet Tracking
I think that Jacqui Smith is playing a dangerously close game with our private information by letting out too a private firm and from the Governments track record of farming out private details only to be lost by them?. Ms Smith should be sacked as she is not fit for the job if she has her way there will be SS police knocking on our doors!!!!!!! NO LONGER A FREE BRITAIN!!!!!!
Posted by: noel j 04 Jan 2009
Outrage
Our government is absolutely rediculous. Even forgetting the privacy issues. Managing a database this large with potential for it expanding exponentially is crazy, it is unmanagable in the long run without further massive investment. Also it shocks me that the government is planning on spending £12bn to watch the country when there are much more pressing issues that need capital to be resolved. The UK is already the country with the most surveillance, what are the government trying to achive? Because I don't see a great deal of benefit coming from it, especially considering it's cost.
Posted by: Andrew Ward 03 Jan 2009
Really?
Do you think the UK government could handle such data. Everytime they hand our data over to 3rd partys. a month later we're told it got 'lost'. Do you think we could trust the government with data. Even if we could in a few years legislation will change so they can use it for more and more reasons. I think it's just a waste of our money
Posted by: Dave B 03 Jan 2009
No
If this goes forward then I'll bin my cellphone and only send/receive emails with public key encryption. I think organisations like the police should have the ability to track and trace SUSPECTS but logging everything everybody says or does by default is beyond even my law-abiding ability to swallow. I can't say no to it enough times or strongly enough. This will create a black market /underground in mods for phones that encrypt texts and emails. It will become a huge nightmare.
Posted by: Lawrence 03 Jan 2009
WHAT THE ???
NO! NONONONONO. A countries govermant is there to service its people, not to spy on them, not to make them fear them, not to run thier lives for them. i suggest a major upheaval of our govermant. We as people demand this. A govermant is nothing without the backing of the people and i say its time for a change.
Posted by: Tim 03 Jan 2009
police state
we would have more freedom in china than the way the uk is going at this rate the next war will be civil
Posted by: bernie 03 Jan 2009
When Is Enough Enough?
Jacqui Smith is rapidly gaining the reputation of someone with severe fascist tendancies. Presumably this attempt to listen in to all electronic messaging is aimed to terrorists and serious crime and not me sending personal information to my bankers. So, if the bad guys want to communicate what will they do? Preumably resort to the Royal Mail or telephones. I assume that Jacqui Smith has anticipated this and has plans to intercept all mail and telephone calls as well. What a nice, clever, girl she is and won't my children be pleased to live in her counrty.
Posted by: David Bradbury 03 Jan 2009