A
government database holding citizens' private communications
records would be "a step too far", information commissioner
Richard Thomas has warned.
Any such database containing the telephone and internet
communications of the entire population would raise serious data
protection concerns, he said.
Commenting on reports that the government is considering such a
database, as part of it attempts to counter terrorism and serious
crime, Thomas said it would be "a step too far for the British way
of life".
Thomas said, "I am absolutely clear that the targeted, and duly
authorised, interception of the communications of suspects can be
invaluable in the fight against terrorism and other serious
crime.
"But there needs to be the fullest public debate about the
justification for, and implications of, a specially-created
database - potentially accessible to a wide range of law
enforcement authorities - holding details of everyone's telephone
and internet communications.
"Do we really want the police, security services and other
organs of the state to have access to more and more aspects of our
private lives?"
Speculation that the Home Office is considering collecting this
information from phone companies and internet service providers has
been reinforced by the government's Draft Legislative Programme
which, referring to a proposed Communications Data Bill, talks
about "modifying procedures for acquiring communications data".
Thomas believes there has not been sufficient parliamentary or
public debate on proposals to collect more and more personal
information without proper justification, citing the expansion of
the
DNA database and the centralised collection and retention of
data from Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras as two
recent examples.
The Information Commissioner 's
Office (ICO) has
served enforcement notices against HM Revenue & Customs and
the Ministry of Defence following recent
high-profile data breaches.
The notices require both departments to provide progress reports
documenting in detail how recommendations have been, or are being,
implemented to improve their data protection compliance. Failure to
comply with an enforcement notice is a criminal offence.
The information commissioner's annual report said the ICO
received 24,851 enquiries and complaints concerning personal
information in 2007-08. The Information Commissioner 's Office has
prosecuted 11 individuals and organisations in the last 12
months.
The ICO received 2,646 freedom of information complaints over
the past year and closed 2,658. Some 395 decision notices were
issued, and of these, 30% ruled in favour of the complainant, and
25% upheld public authorities' original decisions.
In 45% of cases, the ICO upheld some elements of the complaint
in favour of the complainant and agreed with the public authority
on others.