ISPs now have to keep user data for one year

06 Apr 2009 | 13.58 Europe/London

New European Union legislation comes into effect today forcing Internet Service Providers to hold on to data for 12 months on how we use the internet. The measures include details about who you send emails to or talk with using online phone clients like Skype – but not the content of such correspondence. Data about who is responsible for the telephone numbers and IP addresses being used will also be kept.

It comes in response to the London bombings of July 2005 and is part of a wider EU data retention scheme, which already requires phone companies to keep details about how people are using their service. The police and security services, who already monitor social networking sites like Facebook, will be able to access it to help them combat terrorism and crime.

"It is the Government's priority to protect public safety and national security," says a statement from the Home Office. "Communications data plays a vital part in a wide range of criminal investigations and prevention of terrorist attacks, as well as contributing to public safety more generally."

It is the taxpayer who will meet the bill for the data to be logged. Smaller public bodies, such as councils, will also have access to it – to help them investigate less serious matters, such as fly tipping.

Civil liberties groups have criticised the measures. "I don't think people are aware of the implications of this move," Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, told The Telegraph. "It means that everything we do online or on the phone will be known to the authorities. They are using this to produce probably the world's most comprehensive surveillance system."

[ Daily Telegraph]

cyberdoyle says:

how can reading people's emails prevent fly tipping? WTF is going on?

07 Apr 2009 | 07.44 Europe/London

t0m5k1 says:

1. cyberdoyle Says: April 7th, 2009 at 7:44 am how can reading people’s emails prevent fly tipping? WTF is going on? Well when you hear about Tony Blair going for the EU's presidency position it is kinda obvious that in 10 year's time CIVIL LIBERTIES WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST! The Criminal Justice Act 9/11 7/11 The Patriot Act The Terrorist Act are all warnings that this is happening but everyone said 'oh no they wont do that' Well they have & the ball is already rolling. I hope they realise that winston churchill is so fed up with turning in his grave that he has up sticks/bones & moved out somewhere else coz even though he is dead & buried he is still worried about personal privacy!!! Bush setup the ball Blair kicked it Brown runs with it next will be Blair balancing on it & manoevering it where HE see's fit Maybe Obama will pop it maybe he will explain the game in a language that we can understand & trust but the end result is the same as it has always been THEM in total control with us applauding them for good job well done & 5 years after that we will realise exactly what we have ALL lost.

07 Apr 2009 | 16.09 Europe/London