‘Big Brother’ Database Considered

It has been reported that ministers are considering plans to establish a database of electronic information that will hold details of every single phone call and email that is sent in the UK.

Although the plans are at a very early stage, the Home Office confirmed that they might be included in this years draft Communications Data Bill. A Home Office spokesperson explained that gaining access to this data was a ‘crucial’ in protecting national security and preventing crime. The spokesperson 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.” However, the spokesperson also said that the bill would try to protect public privacy. They said: “These powers will continue to be subject to strict safeguards to ensure the right balance between privacy and protecting the public.”

Despite this, the Information Commission, which is an independent authority that was set up to protect personal information, believes that this big brother-style database might “be a step too far”, as it increases the risk of sensitive data being lost or stolen.

Jonathan Bamford of the Information Commission believes that the government will be unable to justify holding this sensitive information. He 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.”

David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary also believes that the database is a bad idea. He said: “This could well be more of a threat to our security than a support.” Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne also criticised the proposals and labelled them “an Orwellian step too far.” He also said that the government’s recent data protection scandals rendered this idea a bad one. He said: “Given the appalling track record of data loss, this state is simply not to be trusted with such private information.”

Mr Huhne has a valid point; the data protection failures in recent months have included the loss of a CD that contained personal details from every child benefit claimant in the UK.

Source:

BBC