ISPs to keep internet data about their customers

[Harrison]

An EU directive forcing ISPs to keep internet data on customers for one year officially comes into force in the UK.


The start date of the EU directive was three weeks ago, but today the UK government officially implements the legislation.


The directive means that all ISPs will have to hold data that determines communications between individuals, but is not supposed to store the content of emails and websites.


Keeping the data has meant extra costs of £48 million to ISPs, which the government has agreed to cover, the Home Office confirmed to IT PRO.
In a statement, the Home Office said that the government’s priority was to protect public and national safety.


It said: “Communications data is the where and when of communication and plays a vital part in a wide range of criminal investigations, and prevention of terrorists attacks as well as contributing to public safety more generally.
“Without communications data resolving crimes such as the Rhys Jones murder would be very difficult if not impossible.”


Any access to communications data was governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), the Home Office claimed.


This was supposed to ensure that effective safeguards were in place, and that data was only accessed when it was necessary and proportionate to do so.
The EU Data Retention Directive has passed by without much fuss.


However, opposition to moves by the government to extend the legislation to social networks has been much more fierce, especially when it concerns moves towards a so-called ‘Big Brother database’.

Thoughts on this?

So ISPs are not meant to keep details of the contents of emails or websites. But if that is the case, what is the point? And I can't see that happening, can you?

[Stephen Coates]

I wonder if I will get arrested if I send an email to someone called Osama Bin Laden.

The governments answer to everything seems to be to stick a new database on it.

[Harrison]

Which is quite mad when you consider they can't even manage the ones they already have.

I would also think it more important to finally work out a way to create a central Police records database for the whole country to use, rather than the current fragmented system with each force around the country only having access to their own records. So at the moment it means you could commit a crime, move to the next county and have a high chance of never being caught!

[thirtywinter]

Ok... I consider myself a somewhat intelligent kind of guy.. but what the heck is this supposed to mean??? all ISPs will have to hold data that determines communications between individuals ??????

They retain data as to who and when you are sending emails or other forms of communication to but not what it actually contains? Would that also include message boards? Just wondering what the limitations on this (If any) is.

[Harrison]

I don't think there are any actual limitations. Leaving it up to the ISPs to log as much as they like. The fact they might be keeping a log of every site you are visiting using your connection should be against the law and somehow contravene your human rights and privacy.

[thirtywinter]

If indeed that is correct then that is outrageous.