header-logo header-logo

Giant government data log criticised

05 June 2008
Issue: 7324 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Data protection
printer mail-detail

Legal news

Plans to develop one governmentrun database to keep a log of phone calls, e-mail and internet use in the UK have been attacked by lawyers and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The gover nment recently proposed legislation which will make it compulsory to record UK internet usage and keep the information for up to a year. This would implement the remaining requirements of the Data Retention Directive which must be done by 2009. The original plan was to have internet service providers (ISPs) to hold the data but Home Office officials are now reportedly planning to ensure the data is stored by the government in a purpose-built database.

Lawdit Solicitors partner Michael Coyle says that in view of the recent loss of sensitive data by, among others, the Home Office, “eyebrows were raised” when the government announced these latest data retention measures.

“The question is one of proportionality: is there any justification for the state to retain every UK citizen’s phone and internet records?” he says.

The ICO says it is unjustified, risky and yet another step towards a surveillance society. Jonathan Bamford, assistant information commissioner, says: “If the intention is to bring all mobile and internet records together under one system, this would give us serious concerns and may well be a step too far. 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.“ He says such a measure would require wider public discussion and that proper safeguards would be needed to ensure the data is only used for the proper purpose of detecting crime. “Holding large collections of data is always risky; the more data that is collected and stored, the bigger the problem when the data is lost, traded or stolen. 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,” he adds.

Issue: 7324 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Data protection
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Slater Heelis—Chester office

Slater Heelis—Chester office

North West presence strengthened with Chester office launch

Cooke, Young & Keidan—Elizabeth Meade

Cooke, Young & Keidan—Elizabeth Meade

Firm grows commercial disputes expertise with partner promotion

CBI South-East Council—Mike Wilson

CBI South-East Council—Mike Wilson

Blake Morgan managing partner appointed chair of CBI South-East Council

NEWS
The House of Lords has set up a select committee to examine assisted dying, which will delay the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
The proposed £11bn redress scheme following the Supreme Court’s motor finance rulings is analysed in this week’s NLJ by Fred Philpott of Gough Square Chambers
In this week's issue, Stephen Gold, NLJ columnist and former district judge, surveys another eclectic fortnight in procedure. With humour and humanity, he reminds readers that beneath the procedural dust, the law still changes lives
Generative AI isn’t the villain of the courtroom—it’s the misunderstanding of it that’s dangerous, argues Dr Alan Ma of Birmingham City University and the Birmingham Law Society in this week's NLJ
James Naylor of Naylor Solicitors dissects the government’s plan to outlaw upward-only rent review (UORR) clauses in new commercial leases under Schedule 31 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, in this week's NLJ. The reform, he explains, marks a seismic shift in landlord-tenant power dynamics: rents will no longer rise inexorably, and tenants gain statutory caps and procedural rights
back-to-top-scroll