Cornered!
Cornered! is a blog devoted, most of the time anyway, to telecommunications: local and global issues, technology, people and trends from the perspective of someone who's been reporting, analysing and commenting on the industry since the dark ages (BC - before competition). Sometimes serious, sometimes flippant, sometimes frivolous. Controversial, analytical, informative, amusing, but never boring; a vehicle for examinations of important issues and observations on my encounters and experiences in an industry where polarised views and hyperbole are the norm.

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Technology news and Jobs arrow Cornered! arrow Dark Knight portends dark days for civil liberties
Dark Knight portends dark days for civil liberties E-mail
by Stuart Corner   
Friday, 18 July 2008
In its draft legislative programme for 2008/9 it has flagged its intention to introduce a new Communications Data Bill "to allow communications data capabilities for the prevention and detection of crime and protection of national security to keep up with changing technology through providing for the collection and retention of such data, including data not required for the business purposes of communications service providers."

The main elements of the Bill include: "Modify the procedures for acquiring communications data and allow this data to be retained." The bill would, the Government claims, "bring the legislative framework on access to communications data up to date with changes taking place in the telecommunications industry and the move to using Internet Protocol (IP) core networks."

This is being interpreted, justifiably I think, as giving the government the right to create "a centralised police database holding details of every phone call and text message you've sent and websites you've visited?"

And it is not just some ratbag blogger who's expressing these fears. It is none other than the UK's Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, in a speech to co-incide with the release of the organisation's annual report.
CONTINUED



 
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