By Graeme Wearden, 11 July 2005 12:59
NEWS Charles Clarke wants email and phone records kept for up to three years to aid police investigations but critics have claimed the scheme is expensive and unwieldy.
Britain will renew its efforts this week to get fellow European Union members to agree to the introduction of new controls for the retention of telecommunications data, following last week's bombings in London.
Under the proposals, telecoms operators and internet service providers would have to keep records of emails, telephone calls and text messages for between 12 months and three years. Law enforcement agencies would be able to see who had sent and received these communications, although the content of these communications would not be stored.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke claims that the powers would help to establish links between individuals.
"Telecommunications records, whether of telephones or of emails, which record what calls were made from what number to another number at what time are of important use for intelligence," said Clarke, according to reports.
The UK is one of several countries advocating the introduction of such measures over recent months. Other EU members have opposed them, fearing they would erode civil liberties.
In June the European parliament rejected draft legislation introduced by France, Ireland, Sweden and the UK, amid fears that the proposals were illegal.
The report from the parliamentary committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs says: "There are sizable doubts on the choice of the legal basis and the proportionality of the measures. It is also possible that the proposal contravenes Article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights."
The committee also criticised the proposal because the data would be difficult to analyse and criminals could find a way around it.
"Given the volume of data to be retained, particularly internet data, it is unlikely that an appropriate analysis of the data will be at all possible," the report says. "Individuals involved in organised crime and terrorism will easily find a way to prevent their data being traced."
The European parliament's civil liberties committee has estimated that the proposals could cost large ISPs and telcos up to £120m to set up, and millions of pound per year to run.
silicon.com's Sylvia Carr contributed to this report
Graeme Wearden writes for ZDNet UK
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Johnathan Perry
This is not a human rights issue. If it was, that no data would be stored anywhere. No CRMs. No call logging. As the e-mail header is the only likely data to be stored, surely there is no threat of privacy violation. And for phone calls, the telephone companies already hold data for itemised billing (probably more that I don't know about). Storing such data may not stop terrorists, but if the culprits can be caught earlier, and brought to justice, for the sake of 'a select few' knowing when I sent and e-mail or made a call, then lets just get on with it.
As for the cost, you look at the lives wrecked in recent events and tell them it's not worth it.
ID Cards - same issue. It's not about Human Rights - the bigger picture of security and tracibility is far more important than anything else.
I really do think that most people agaist such projects have something to hide; although, they'd never admit it.
Life your life like a sheet of clear glass, and is such a way that what people see on the inside, is attractive and bright.
2. Karen Challinor
We already do this, but we are only a small company.
I think the main objection will be from larger businesses objecting to the cost of storage
3. Tony Harbon
Given that there are so many other ways to communicate over the Internet without actually sending an email through a UK ISP connection, what exactly is this meant to achieve? Wherever there are fringe groups that want to find a way of communicating secretly, they will surely find a way. I suggest that this story is consigned to be tomorrow's fish'n'chip paper and that the money required is put to some better use.
4. anonymous
Only people who have something to hide do not want ID cards.
5. Roger Huffadine
One has to ask "Why?"
One can visit any Car Boot Sale, pick up SIM cards for £1 - pick up a used Mobile for £10 - buy a Top Up from a shop without CCTV and pass unencrypted messages before disposing of the items.
How will Charles track these? and if he can't then I don't know why he needs to track all the other useless crap.
6. Vic
Charles Clarke's proposals will do no good. Not at all.
I can't fit all I've got to say in here - so I wrote it down at http://www.yellowside.org.uk/email/
Vic.