By Gemma Simpson, 21 February 2007 13:30
NEWS
UK security and law enforcement agencies made nearly 439,000 requests to monitor people's phone calls, emails and post during a 15-month period, the spying watchdog has revealed.
But nearly 4,000 errors in requests were also reported within the same period between 1 January 2005 and 31 March 2006, according to a report from the Interceptions of Communications Commissioner (ICC).
The ICC oversees the activities of 795 public bodies - including 52 police forces and intelligence services MI5 and MI6.
Sir Swinton Thomas, the interceptions of communications commissioner, said in the report: "This [the error count] may seem a large number but it is very small when compared to the overall number of requests for communications data which totalled 439,054 during the same period."
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Out of the 3,972 errors made, 66 were interception errors and breaches an increase on 45 such errors reported during 2004.
Thomas said the number of errors is unacceptably high but the relevant intelligence and law enforcement agencies having been under extreme pressure, with some employees working round the clock during this period.
Thomas added: "At times such as these it is more likely, and more understandable, that mistakes may be made."
Comments
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1. Kevin
Given that there are 60 million people in this country - this means that there is one snooping request for every 138 people (including minors). But this isn't a big brother state and you have nothing to fear if you've done nothing wrong, right?
2. anonymous
Do you want to do that sum again, Kevin?
3. galley slave#41
WHO IS WATCHING THE WATCHERS!
4. Ralph
If the Interceptions of Communications Commissioner (ICC) oversees the interception activities of 795 public bodies, including 52 police forces, MI5 and MI6 - who are the other 741 pubic bodies and why are they intercepting communications??
5. anonymous
And how do you find out if you were one of the one's snooped upon?
6. Radical Meldrew
Is real life emulating Big Brother. Bizarre!
7. Sarah
I am not someone who worries about the conspiracy theories and big brother and would not worry about having an ID card, as I have nothing to hide.
But this really worries me, if it is true.
8. Chris Goodman
Even ONE error is too many. With the double checking that should be thoroughly carried out in such as this, there is NO excuse for error. The old excuse of human error must not be accepted - those gold plated civil servants should be allowed no more than one error and then fired. And the supervisor who supposedly double checked before the error was made should get the same - one error and OUT.
Too much lethargy and complacency in the Civil Service where jobs and pensions are taken as a right.
9. anonymous
Scary stuff. Given that post goes to an address usually shared the stats are worse than Kevin states. It looks like around one in 50 may be being snooped upon.
10. Joe Whitehead
You seem to forget that one person/organization can have many requests, Kevin. I wonder what the actual number of people is - not just the total number of requests.
11. anonymous
How do you find out if you have been snooped??
There must be a way under data protection , human rights or something
12. anonymous
I assume those errors were in who was snooped on, but it's the errors and the wrong inferences from data obtained which is frightening. In the USA I had a very through FBI check done on me and was able to see the report after. Extensive errors existed from the blatantly obvious to rather subtle ones any of which could have made life difficult. At least I was able to see what was written, in the UK all of that is secret. The next concern is the large number of people/organisations/departments who are gradually being allowed to do the snooping and what errors of interpretation they will make.