UK Government To Outsource Data Snooping and Storage 114
bone_idol writes "The Guardian is reporting that the private sector will be asked to manage and run a communications database that will keep track of everyone's calls, emails, texts and internet use under a key option contained in a consultation paper to be published next month by Jacqui Smith, the home secretary. Also covered on the BBC."
Slippery slope (Score:4, Insightful)
Senior Whitehall officials responsible for planning for a new database say there is a significant difference between having access to "communications data" - names and addresses of emails or telephone numbers, for example - and the actual contents of the communications. "We have been very clear that there are no plans for a database containing any content of emails, texts or conversations," the spokeswoman said.
Pretty slip indeed.
Re:Left on a train (Score:5, Insightful)
You wish given that UK government IT is all outsourced to private sector cowboys.
Re:Left on a train (Score:4, Insightful)
At least it's less lightly to be left on the train, if it's not in government hands.
To be replaced by the private company selling it to the highest bidder?
missed the issue (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't be concerned at who is holding the data rather be concerned that the data is actually being collected.... (it's probably safer if the government isn't managing this anyway)
Standard practice (Score:5, Insightful)
Jackboots Jacqui strikes again (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Left on a train (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Jackboots Jacqui strikes again (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Jackboots Jacqui strikes again (Score:5, Insightful)
What the hell is wrong with that woman? More to the point, what the hell is wrong with us? In any sane society a person like that would've been strung up from a lamppost a long time ago.
She's the product of a party which is obsessed with micromanaging the citizens of the country. A party which got to power by ruthlessly instilling discipline within its own membership - in other words, "follow the party line to the letter or get out".
Jack Straw and David Blunkett were almost as bad. Tony Blair has openly gone on record as saying that he doesn't consider the civil liberties argument against ID cards to be a particularly strong one.
There is no fscking chance you'll find anyone in a remotely senior position within the current Labour party who's prepared to contradict the party line - particularly when the arguments presented in favour always boil down to "it will drastically reduce crime" - never something that's easy to argue against.
Re:Please... (Score:3, Insightful)
As a UK citizen, I am currently considering moving to one of several insane countries!
Re:Left on a train (Score:2, Insightful)
Governments outsource plenty, and have for a very long time.
This is true, however weather it is sensible I'm not so sure. All comes down to trust in the end, do you trust the private sector with all your details? And do you trust them to behave ethically when the inevitable conflicts of interests occur?
I personally do not, and would nationalise everything that could be, banks, land, public transport, etc... but that's just me.
Re:Jackboots Jacqui strikes again (Score:3, Insightful)
She's the product of a party which is obsessed with micromanaging the citizens of the country. A party which got to power by ruthlessly instilling discipline within its own membership - in other words, "follow the party line to the letter or get out".
LOL WUT?
Have you ever been a member of the Labour Party? Pretty much every meeting I went to was devoted to people carping about the leadership.
Re:People who have something to hide, can. (Score:3, Insightful)
Until they make the use of SSH tunnels or even encryption illegal. After all, if you have nothing to hide, why would you even consider using either? - or so their argument will go.