Proposals to create a 'super database' that would log every phone call, text
and email in the UK have been called into question by Information Commissioner
Richard Thomas.
Speculation has been rife that the government intends to
create
a giant database after talking about "modifying procedures for acquiring
communications data" in the Communications Data Bill.
Thomas described the creation of such a database, which would offer security
agencies access to all telephone and internet communications made in the UK, as
"a step too far for the British way of life".
"Do we really want the police, security services and other organs of the
state to have access to more and more aspects of our private lives?" Thomas
asked at the launch of the Information Commissioner's annual report.
Under the current system police and intelligence agencies are required to
request telecoms companies for information on phone calls, texts messages and
surfing history.
The new proposals would overturn the right of ISPs and telcos to query any
such request, which can currently be referred to the Interception Commissioner
or an alternative watchdog.
Dealing with the volume of all communications made in the UK would require a
database of unprecedented size.
Some 57 billion text messages were sent in Britain last year, while three
million emails are thought to be sent every day.
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