28 March 2012
Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.
The Guardian newspaper reports (7.11.01) that the UK government plans to introduce a new law to require service and network providers to retain all telecommunications data (e-mails, faxes, phone-calls, mobile phone calls and internet usage) for the purpose of criminal investigations however minor.
In September the government introduction temporary (renewable each month) order requiring providers to retrain data for the purpose of investigating terrorist acts: earlier report
The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, went on record in the Tribune newspaper (26.10.01) saying that any new powers would "strictly" cover "a criminal investigations against suspected terrorists".
A Home Office official said that: "The data will be available for the full range of purposes list in the Act" (the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act).
Note: this story should perhaps carry a "health" warning. Last month government Ministers floated the idea of the imminent introduction of identity cards only to withdraw it after negative reactions. The above story has some of the same hall-marks.
For background to the discussion on the interception of telecommunications see: S.O.S. Europe
For Statewatch's clause by clause analysis of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act see: R.I.P.
Full-text of the Guardian report: Police to get sweeping access to net dat
Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.
Statewatch does not have a corporate view, nor does it seek to create one, the views expressed are those of the author. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement. Registered UK charity number: 1154784. Registered UK company number: 08480724. Registered company name: The Libertarian Research & Education Trust. Registered office: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH. © Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X. Personal usage as private individuals "fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright law.