Comments on: The Database State http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/ It is all obvious or trivial except... Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:45:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: James Hammerton http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12734 James Hammerton Tue, 20 May 2008 19:39:12 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12734 They're talking about storing "communications data", i.e. who you communicate with, when and for how long (or how much data is sent). Content is not included. These proposals actually go back to the aftermath of 9/11. The government created provision for a voluntary code on retention of this data, and provision (unused) for compulsion in retaining the data in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. They then switched tack and pushed for such measures at EU level, successfully. Readers may be interested in my article on this topic at Magna Carta Plus: http://www.magnacartaplus.org/news/index.php/?p=171 Incidentally, the Register has a more recent article on this topic, which talks about the government considering creating a central database, as per the Telegraph article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/20/central_government_database_proposed/ They’re talking about storing “communications data”, i.e. who you communicate with, when and for how long (or how much data is sent). Content is not included.

These proposals actually go back to the aftermath of 9/11. The government created provision for a voluntary code on retention of this data, and provision (unused) for compulsion in retaining the data in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

They then switched tack and pushed for such measures at EU level, successfully.

Readers may be interested in my article on this topic at Magna Carta Plus:

http://www.magnacartaplus.org/news/index.php/?p=171

Incidentally, the Register has a more recent article on this topic, which talks about the government considering creating a central database, as per the Telegraph article:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/20/central_government_database_proposed/

]]> By: Philip Thomas http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12729 Philip Thomas Tue, 20 May 2008 17:31:40 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12729 Dammit, the Internet promised free porn without anyone ever knowing you'd peeked. I can't go back to people knowing. I just can't. Dammit, the Internet promised free porn without anyone ever knowing you’d peeked. I can’t go back to people knowing. I just can’t.

]]> By: Kay Tie http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12710 Kay Tie Tue, 20 May 2008 12:27:09 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12710 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/20/central_government_database_proposed/ Yep. The Telegraph was right. Perhaps the Home Office should have an RSS feed so that we can keep up with the latest ideas. feed://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/stasiwetdream.rss http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/20/central_government_database_proposed/

Yep. The Telegraph was right. Perhaps the Home Office should have an RSS feed so that we can keep up with the latest ideas.

feed://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/stasiwetdream.rss

]]> By: Kay Tie http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12704 Kay Tie Tue, 20 May 2008 11:29:32 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12704 Hmmn. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7409593.stm The ICO doesn't seem to think this is an old proposal. More investigations needed. Hmmn.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7409593.stm

The ICO doesn’t seem to think this is an old proposal. More investigations needed.

]]> By: Kay Tie http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12699 Kay Tie Tue, 20 May 2008 10:51:05 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12699 "the Telegraph article is misleading bollocks" Ah. I thought this was a new proposal. I get so confused by the blizzard of proposals, announcements, re-announcements, new proposals, that I lose track of which piece of authoritarian shit they're up to today. “the Telegraph article is misleading bollocks”

Ah. I thought this was a new proposal. I get so confused by the blizzard of proposals, announcements, re-announcements, new proposals, that I lose track of which piece of authoritarian shit they’re up to today.

]]> By: Zorro http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12698 Zorro Tue, 20 May 2008 10:44:29 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12698 Not that they would have the technical proficiency to actually do this, but just in case:- The onion router (TOR) http://www.torproject.org/ TOR Firefox plugin https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2275 Not that they would have the technical proficiency to actually do this, but just in case:-

The onion router (TOR)
http://www.torproject.org/

TOR Firefox plugin
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2275

]]> By: john b http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12691 john b Tue, 20 May 2008 09:50:27 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12691 No, the Telegraph article is misleading bollocks. The Register, who know what they're talking about, <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/16/isp_data_retention_directive/" rel="nofollow">make clear</a> that this is just about mandating ISPs to keep the records to ensure they can be made available to security services if there is a court order. No, the Telegraph article is misleading bollocks. The Register, who know what they’re talking about, make clear that this is just about mandating ISPs to keep the records to ensure they can be made available to security services if there is a court order.

]]> By: Kay Tie http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12686 Kay Tie Tue, 20 May 2008 09:31:04 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12686 "As far as I’m aware it’s connection not content." Yes. But be aware that who you write to and where you browse to forms a pretty good picture of your life, to be leaked to the press when convenient. "The ISPs etc have said they already keep this data for billing and dispute resolution." And because they've been given a heads up by the Government to do so. "it doesn’t get shifted into some government data storage should be pretty safe from unnecessary prying" This is precisely the proposal! "data mining as something to do on a rainy afternoon" This is precisely what will happen. They are claiming that putting it all in one central database will increase "efficiency": Plod will get one court order and come to one place to see everything he needs without disturbing the ISP. Yeah, it'll increase efficiency all right: once they remove the need for a court order and the security services can just peek away at whatever they wish. “As far as I’m aware it’s connection not content.”

Yes. But be aware that who you write to and where you browse to forms a pretty good picture of your life, to be leaked to the press when convenient.

“The ISPs etc have said they already keep this data for billing and dispute resolution.”

And because they’ve been given a heads up by the Government to do so.

“it doesn’t get shifted into some government data storage should be pretty safe from unnecessary prying”

This is precisely the proposal!

“data mining as something to do on a rainy afternoon”

This is precisely what will happen.

They are claiming that putting it all in one central database will increase “efficiency”: Plod will get one court order and come to one place to see everything he needs without disturbing the ISP. Yeah, it’ll increase efficiency all right: once they remove the need for a court order and the security services can just peek away at whatever they wish.

]]> By: Gallimaufry http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12685 Gallimaufry Tue, 20 May 2008 09:28:40 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12685 Can we assume that the records will be accidentally shreddded like the expenses claims of our dear former leader? Can we assume that the records will be accidentally shreddded like the expenses claims of our dear former leader?

]]> By: Jay http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12680 Jay Tue, 20 May 2008 09:10:32 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12680 As far as I'm aware it's connection not content. The ISPs etc have said they already keep this data for billing and dispute resolution. Not happy about it frankly but it's not a huge shift. As long as the service providers are responsible for holding the data and it doesn't get shifted into some government data storage should be pretty safe from unnecessary prying - HMG and minions will still need to officially request access, rather than data mining as something to do on a rainy afternoon. As far as I’m aware it’s connection not content. The ISPs etc have said they already keep this data for billing and dispute resolution. Not happy about it frankly but it’s not a huge shift. As long as the service providers are responsible for holding the data and it doesn’t get shifted into some government data storage should be pretty safe from unnecessary prying – HMG and minions will still need to officially request access, rather than data mining as something to do on a rainy afternoon.

]]> By: MarkS http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/comment-page-1/#comment-12676 MarkS Tue, 20 May 2008 08:16:05 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/20/the-database-state/#comment-12676 Normally I'd be alarmed by this news, but with the government's track records on IT project, I don't think we have much to fear. Still, it will provide a few more thousand public sector jobs. Cameron is going to have a lot of sacking to do! Normally I’d be alarmed by this news, but with the government’s track records on IT project, I don’t think we have much to fear. Still, it will provide a few more thousand public sector jobs. Cameron is going to have a lot of sacking to do!

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