UK details plans to track all communications

[Trevortt]

The UK government has further detailed plans to track all communications — mobile phone calls, text messages, email and browser sessions — in the fight against terrorism, pedophiles and organized crime. The government said it's not looking to see what you're saying, just to whom and when and how. Contrary to previous plans to keep it all in a massive database, it will now let ISPs and telecoms firms store the data themselves, and access it when it feels it needs it.

The UK Government has dropped plans to create a massive database of all internet communications, following stern criticism from privacy advocates. Instead the Government wants ISPs and mobile phone companies to retain details of mobile phone calls, emails and internet sites visited. As with the original scheme, the actual content of the phone calls and messages won't be recorded, just the dates, duration and location/IP address of messages sent. The security services would then have to apply to the ISP or telecoms company to have the data released. The new proposals would also require ISPs to retain details of communications that originated in other countries but passed over the UK's network, such as instant messages.

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Wooo, its great living in a communist state!

[DTE]

When this was first proposed, as a government database, I was thoroughly appaled. My Owellian Nightmare alarm went off and everything. Today its being reported that this latest step to get the companies to compile the data themselves is somehow a STEP FORWARD. To me it seems a step backwards, and more dangerous if anything.

People were concerned before that the government (oooh, the government, bad) can have access to this information, well now it still exists but only in the hands of the companies involved. Hey, I'm no fan of Jacqui Smith, but if her Home Office want to snoop around my internet activity, at least I know who they are. At least there's some oversight, some form of code of conduct. Does anyone really think Orange, or T-Mobile or Sky Broadband will be put under the same scrutiny when handling this information? Today's developments make this story worse, not better.

Of course all the companies involved will be compensated for this increased workload. Labour striking a deal that benefits big business, how unusual.

[angelcountry]

The UK government has further detailed plans to track all communications — mobile phone calls, text messages, email and browser sessions — in the fight against terrorism, pedophiles and organized crime. The government said it's not looking to see what you're saying, just to whom and when and how. Contrary to previous plans to keep it all in a massive database, it will now let ISPs and telecoms firms store the data themselves, and access it when it feels it needs it.

The UK Government has dropped plans to create a massive database of all internet communications, following stern criticism from privacy advocates. Instead the Government wants ISPs and mobile phone companies to retain details of mobile phone calls, emails and internet sites visited. As with the original scheme, the actual content of the phone calls and messages won't be recorded, just the dates, duration and location/IP address of messages sent. The security services would then have to apply to the ISP or telecoms company to have the data released. The new proposals would also require ISPs to retain details of communications that originated in other countries but passed over the UK's network, such as instant messages.

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Wooo, its great living in a communist state!

Well anything beyond that legislations will be deemed as ultra vires in it entirety given the fact that, some police officer might be listening to people conversations and text as a fantancy not for prosecution for the prescribe legislations is meant for anyway, but at the end of the day we need to crack crime not personal desire'' or want you feel not what the law says.

Well recently some pakistan student were arrested for terrorism and after questioning they were released after ascertaining that, they were actually not a terrorist, which encompases the principle of audi alterem patem in the administrations of justice, please we should not be upset or get emotional in crime cracking in the life of being by virtue of it must by all means possible, for example in the case of Murphys V dublin corporations
In one of the ruling by mr justice walse, that, public interest excuses by the government or public body that has discretional powers, that sort of outcome may lack be contrary to their believed of evidence which the defendant may has upper hand at the end, but by virtue of the fact of power they dwell on it, but the administration of justice can not be undermined, that's one of the judgement of mr justice walse in that case.

[Citizen Smith]

so we will be truly under the control of he corporations. the UK is the best for freedom, lest keep it that way!

[angelcountry]

so we will be truly under the control of he corporations. the UK is the best for freedom, lest keep it that way!

You're right with that statement i presumed but we all owns a duty to be a good citizen at all time anyway.

[Midas]

You're right with that statement i presumed but we all owns a duty to be a good citizen at all time anyway.

True enough, but that's not the point. It's the fact that the government has so little regard for or trust in its citizens that it feels it has to invade their personal privacy and both monitor communications and keep all these records for years.

The whole thing is rather self-defeating anyway though with the huge increases in numbers of private individuals and companies using encrypted VPNs which defy any attempts at either monitoring calls or analysing them for either type (email, internet, VoIP, P2P etc) or destination. Also any criminal or terrorist worth his salt will either use encryption or otherwise disguise their conversation using innocuous sounding code words.

A few minor or less than aware criminals might get caught, but at what cost, both social and financial, to everyone else!

[TellMeMore]

Yes, but it's nothing to do with combatting crime or terrorism, it's power exercised for the sake of it. What's that line from 1984 'If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever.'
They're just doing it because they can. It would be nice to believe there's an end-game coming and a reckoning for these vermin, but sadly bread and circuses still works.
Just look around you, I'm certain that (without much effort at all) you could name at least 20 people who would not be allowed a vote in a sane society. Oops, a bit off-topic there, sorry.

[Citizen Smith]

You're right with that statement i presumed but we all owns a duty to be a good citizen at all time anyway.

yes. But we shouldn't just bend over and let people with questionnable competence and motives take power over us- if we are constantly monitered, you are trustin the government to A- keep the info safe
B- not use it to oppress everyone and enforce their views

We should all try to be good citizens, but the majority of us are, and we shouldn't ever have to accept this kind of police state.