Guys, anyone heard of this story floating around that as of today, new laws have been introduced making it a damn sight easier for Government to listen in on all our calls, landline and mobile?
Worringly it seems that even lowly council officials can now also do this...
really don't like this idea but can't find any details of it on the BBC website... *wonders if Parliament have told the BEEB not to run the story* :rolleyes:
Found out a bit more..
Phone data law extends surveillance powers
By Brendan Carlin Political Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:56am BST 01/10/2007
A massive extension of surveillance powers comes into force today, giving police, government officials and even local councils unprecedented access to everyone's telephone records.
The new regulations will force telecommunications companies to retain information about all landline and mobile calls made by members of the public for one year, and hand over the data to over 650 public bodies and quangos.
The move, quietly approved by Parliament in July under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, is being justified as a vital tool in the fight against terrorism.
A Home Office spokesman defended the move, saying that the content of people's calls or text messages was not being read, just the place from where they made the call and to which number.
''We are not intruding into people's private lives," said the spokesman, adding that the move was "part of the difficult balance between protecting people from terrorism and serious crime, and respecting people's human rights".
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "Once again this Government has been caught red handed creating new surveillance state powers with no meaningful public or parliamentary debate."
| QUOTE (trisco @ Oct 1 2007, 01:36 PM) |
Guys, anyone heard of this story floating around that as of today, new laws have been introduced making it a damn sight easier for Government to listen in on all our calls, landline and mobile?
Worringly it seems that even lowly council officials can now also do this...
really don't like this idea but can't find any details of it on the BBC website... *wonders if Parliament have told the BEEB not to run the story* :rolleyes: |
well, I've had a look at the Guardian and the Ministry of Justice web page and I can't find anything today either. The only law that i know of coming in to force today is the increase in the minimum wage and an increase in holidays per year :D
however, i've just tried to check the BBC and the news page appears to have crashed :blink:
| QUOTE (trisco @ Oct 1 2007, 01:47 PM) |
The new regulations will force telecommunications companies to retain information about all landline and mobile calls made by members of the public for one year, and hand over the data to over 650 public bodies and quangos.
|
Who are these 650 public bodies?? :o
| QUOTE (Dinky Jo @ Oct 1 2007, 01:47 PM) |
| QUOTE (trisco @ Oct 1 2007, 01:36 PM) | Guys, anyone heard of this story floating around that as of today, new laws have been introduced making it a damn sight easier for Government to listen in on all our calls, landline and mobile?
Worringly it seems that even lowly council officials can now also do this...
really don't like this idea but can't find any details of it on the BBC website... *wonders if Parliament have told the BEEB not to run the story* :rolleyes: |
well, I've had a look at the Guardian and the Ministry of Justice web page and I can't find anything today either. The only law that i know of coming in to force today is the increase in the minimum wage and an increase in holidays per year :D
however, i've just tried to check the BBC and the news page appears to have crashed :blink:
|
Ok, this is what i can find on the Home Office web page
http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/ripa/pub...tronic-data-copYou can get a PDF of the full amendment there somewhere.....