The Big Brother Database: Jacqui Smith will carry on regardless
Andrew Rawnsley on Politics Home this morning following a question to their “Expert Panel 100″ panel:
Jacqui Smith is being cast as Big Brother - though perhaps that should be Big Mother - over plans to further extend the amount of information on citizens held by the state. The terrorism watchdog is one of those concerned with the idea of a database holding information about every phone call, email and internet visit.
The Home Secretary will go ahead regardless of strong opposition.
A big majority (seventy three per cent) of the politically balanced panel think that Ministers intend to proceed anyway. Only a small minority of the panel (seven per cent) think that there will not be strong opposition to the database scheme.
About a quarter of the panel (twenty six per cent) reckon the Government will drop the plan.
Surveillance Powers in the UK need to be Questioned
The BBC is reporting on the abuse of surveillance powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2001:
Councils in England have been urged to review the way they use surveillance powers to investigate suspected crime.
Under laws brought in to help fight terrorism, councils can access phone and e-mail records and use surveillance to detect or stop a criminal offence.
Remember that. “Laws brought in to help fight terrorism“. Sir Simon Milton of the Local Government Association has written to Councils:
Sir Simon said
I love that … but was it “do this” or “do that“
“Parliament clearly intended that councils should use the new powers, and generally they are being used to respond to residents’ complaints about fly tippers, rogue traders and those defrauding the council tax or housing benefit system.”
