"Sometimes the best-intentioned plans bring the most insidious threats, where freedoms are not appreciated until it is too late to turn the clock back," Information Commissioner Richard Thomas warned in his annual report released today.
The targeted, and duly authorised, interception of the communications of suspects can be invaluable in the fight against terrorism and other serious crime. But would that provide justification for the scheme which - it has been suggested - is under consideration to create a government-run database to hold details of the telephone and internet communications of the entire population? Do we really want the police, security services and other organs of the state to have access to more and more aspects of our private lives? Any such scheme would require the fullest public debate to establish whether, whatever the benefits, it amounted to excessive surveillance as a step too far for the British way of life.
Thomas elaborated on the moves which have given rise to such fears at the report's launch:
Speculation that the Home Office is considering collecting this information from phone companies and internet service providers has been reinforced by the government’s Draft Legislative Programme which, referring to a proposed Communications Data Bill, talks about ‘modifying procedures for acquiring communications data’.
