Broadband customers may be interested to know about the concerns raised by industry experts over plans for a government-run database of all phone calls and emails sent in the UK.

The Information Commissioner's Office, which acts as a privacy watchdog to the government, has warned the move could be "a step too far".

Deputy information commissioner Jonathan Bamford explained: "We are not aware of any justification for the state to hold every UK citizen's phone and internet records.

"We have real doubts that such a measure can be justified, or is proportionate or desirable."

If implemented, the database would require all internet service providers to log details of emails sent through their services, a move which Privacy International has called "illegal," reports the BBC.

Last year, the BBC also reported that Google was reducing the length of time it retained personal search information for - after being told it was violating European privacy laws.


Wednesday, 21st May 2008

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