The UK Home Office yesterday confirmed that security and
intelligence agencies are seeking the right to access records of
every telephone, e-mail and internet connection made in the UK,
according to reports from Reuters. Under the proposals, all such
communications would be logged and stored for seven years.
A report submitted to the Home Office by the National Criminal
Intelligence Service (NCIS) says that, as a matter of urgency,
“legislation should require every CSP [communication service
provider] to retain all communications data originating or
terminating in the UK, or routed through the UK networks, including
any such data that is stored offshore.” The report was apparently
leaked to Sunday’s Observer newspaper.
The stated purposes of the data include intelligence and
evidence gathering and protecting society. The report acknowledged
“grave reservations” expressed by the data protection commissioner,
Elizabeth France, following discussions on the proposal with the
NCIS.
The Home Office is considering the report but stressed to
reporters that no decision has been taken.
There was much controversy this year when the bill leading to
the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act was being debated in
Parliament. Privacy groups said the powers of investigation that it
gave to the security and intelligence services amounted to a “Big
Brother” society, yet its powers stop far short of what is said to
be proposed in the new document submitted to the Home Office.
