The controversial British Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIP Act)
requires internet service providers to be connected to a government e-mail interception
center.
The RIP Act offends traditional notions of privacy. Government investigators
and bureaucrats can use personal and private information in much more harmful
ways than personal information in any other hands.
Also in Britain, proposals have been floated to warehouse records of all
communications so that they can be used for criminal investigations.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service has recommended to the Home Office
that every telephone call (including mobile phone calls) and every e-mail
should be stored in a huge government data warehouse for seven years.
Links:
Wiretapped Nation, by J.D. Tucille, Civil Liberties, About.com
(December 4, 2000)
Looking to the
Future: Clarity on Communications Data Retention Law, Roger Gaspar, Deputy
Director General, NCIS Chairman, ACPO Police and Telecommunications Industry
Strategy Group on behalf of A.C.P.O. and A.C.P.O (S), H.M. Customs & Excise
Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service, and G.C.H.Q. (August 21, 2000)
Comments? comments@privacilla.org
(Subject: RIPAct)
[updated 02/19/01]
