Nanny State?
October 17th, 2008Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has proposed legislation which would give the security services the power to amass a giant database of all emails and phone calls in the UK. Emotive topics like terrorism, murder, child abuse etc. have been bandied about to justify this initiative and while Smith defends the proposed action with the claim that,
“Communications data - that is, data about calls, such as the location and identity of the caller, not the content of the calls themselves - is used as important evidence in 95% of serious crime cases and in almost all security service operations since 2004.”
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7671046.stm)
the proposal is still viewed by many as an infringement of civil liberties. Emailing is synonymous with our culture in the 21st century and it is ironic that the technology which has created this situation has undoubtedly also created its own macabre element but does this minority aspect vindicate mass intrusion? I would be interested to know what you think.
If you wish to read more check out the following links:
BBC News: “Giant Database plan ‘Orwellian’”
Computer Weekly: “Government confirms giant database on citizens’ communication data”
The Independent UK: “Storm over Big Brother database”
