Online Communication Monitoring Options

[x2lls]

As is well publicised, the government are proposing to put down laws to enable the full monitoring of any online communication. The full details of which have not yet been fully disclosed (At the time of this post). The basis of this introduction is that it will enable a tool to combat serious crime and terrorism.

I, for one, who has been in the IT industry for at least 30 years as a database administrator do not trust this government, or any future one, to guarantee the integrity of our privacy.
I have had access to the most sensitive data during the whole my career, in utilities,insurance, courier, banking and government, and am amazed at how so easily gigabytes of data can be copied to a USB stick in seconds with no comeback.

[Vodabury]

As is well publicised, the government are proposing to put down laws to enable the full monitoring of any online communication. The full details of which have not yet been fully disclosed (At the time of this post). The basis of this introduction is that it will enable a tool to combat serious crime and terrorism.

I, for one, who has been in the IT industry for at least 30 years as a database administrator do not trust this government, or any future one, to guarantee the integrity of our privacy.
I have had access to the most sensitive data during the whole my career, in utilities,insurance, courier, banking and government, and am amazed at how so easily gigabytes of data can be copied to a USB stick in seconds with no comeback.

I share your concerns.

There is, of course, a difference between traffic data and the content of a communication.

With the authority of a court, I have little problem with the police or the security services being able to monitor activity as long as it is part of a bona fide investigation, but the hundreds of organisations that can now apply to see what an individual does on line is worrying.

[x2lls]

I share your concerns.

There is, of course, a difference between traffic data and the content of a communication.

With the authority of a court, I have little problem with the police or the security services being able to monitor activity as long as it is part of a bona fide investigation, but the hundreds of organisations that can now apply to see what an individual does on line is worrying.

There is a catch 22 there though.
If traffic data provides a positive result, the contents will be required, perhaps to ensure conviction. It wouldn't take long for the authorities to realise that traffic only monitoring is not sufficient.

[Vodabury]

There is a catch 22 there though.
If traffic data provides a positive result, the contents will be required, perhaps to ensure conviction. It wouldn't take long for the authorities to realise that traffic only monitoring is not sufficient.

Perhaps we are already there. What concerns me about legislation such as RIPA is the way the back door is so wide open to statutory instruments. Whilst the press is concerned over some irrelevance, the law can change so quickly and with little, if any, debate!

[Guest_jaycakes_*]

They may take our lives but they will never take my freedom (on the internet).
What exactly is wrong with how it is now? i.e - If suspicious is valid, you get a warrant.. I don't think the Government would be very interested in my browsing history...
Cars..blog...local constituency forum, redtube, cars... repeat x 100 and then bed.

I guess its' just the whole "big brother" thing"..

[x2lls]

They may take our lives but they will never take my freedom (on the internet).
What exactly is wrong with how it is now? i.e - If suspicious is valid, you get a warrant.. I don't think the Government would be very interested in my browsing history...
Cars..blog...local constituency forum, redtube, cars... repeat x 100 and then bed.

I guess its' just the whole "big brother" thing"..

In general, I agree with your point xjay(!), but there are , I would say a great number of us who use the internet for a lot of personal day to day stuff that should remain private. That is , after all, the reason we have ssl and https etc etc....

[Dodgys smarter b...]

I don't think the Government would be very interested in my browsing history...

Oh but they are. This Government would then have access to the biggest database of personal browsing history ever compiled in this Country. Wouldn't some of their paymasters in big business just love to get their hands on that?

Remember the internet maxim?

"if you're not paying for something, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold".

[Adrian Hollister]

The majority of people who they do want to monitor would know how to get around it (using Tor for example). So, this will leave them monitoring the rest of us. If we are doing nothing special, then the only purpose would be for social management or social control. After all, if you know what people are thinking you know how to best spend your party funds changing opinion etc...

Bit like phone hacking for government, but with the added power that serious analytics could be brought by HMG. For example, at the moment you could track your social network usage and other public documents to form a picture of people (try your name in 123people); but this generally only works with your consent. HMG could force this without your consent, add your emails, browsing history, how long you spend on sites, track what you clicked on, etc. Like google on steroids they could track your life. Would you trust any government with this type of information? How quickly would the Tories sell this out to business or to the US?

Not a good situation.

[Penelope]

And how long before Media intersts pursuade the government that it would be "in the countrys interest" to hand of the data so they could pursue alleged instances of copyright infringment, not long I'LL be bound !

[Adrian Hollister]

And how long before Media intersts pursuade the government that it would be "in the countrys interest" to hand of the data so they could pursue alleged instances of copyright infringment, not long I'LL be bound !

Agree.

Hang on, was that a Penelope post that I was agreeing with

[Jayjay]

I find this really alarming. Our personal details are already being sold by companies (think insurance and personal injury lawyers), and the government (DVLA). The law already has access to suspected criminals and terrorists media usage if they prove the need through the courts.

I thought this subject had been discussed in the early days of the coalition government and ruled out.

[On the edge]

One can imagine, or rather one actually knows this is simply the start. Of course Parliament aren't interested in what you are doing - but 'Government' certainly is! Just think, without too much imagination, you can see just how Social Security means tested benefits can be checked, School catchment areas enforced, Communirty Charge registers maintained, tax records balanced. Soon they'll even know how much electricity you are using and when...so it goes on. I can understand how this is acceptable in a socialist society but arn't the Tories supposed to be the party of Freedom? What a squalid little stich up - yet another stich up. It's OK - I love big brother...

[JeffG]

Communirty Charge registers maintained

Bit picky I know, but the Community Charge was introduced during the Thatcher era and quickly dropped after huge public protests. Did you mean Council Tax?

[Andy Capp]

Bit picky I know...

Correct.

[Penelope]

Agree.

Hang on, was that a Penelope post that I was agreeing with

I'ts ok, I won't hold it against you. Just don't make a habit of it.

[Penelope]

The midnight knock on the door, coming your way soon.

[Jayjay]

One can imagine, or rather one actually knows this is simply the start. Of course Parliament aren't interested in what you are doing - but 'Government' certainly is! Just think, without too much imagination, you can see just how Social Security means tested benefits can be checked, School catchment areas enforced, Communirty Charge registers maintained, tax records balanced. Soon they'll even know how much electricity you are using and when...so it goes on. I can understand how this is acceptable in a socialist society but arn't the Tories supposed to be the party of Freedom? What a squalid little stich up - yet another stich up. It's OK - I love big brother...

We will all have to give a DNA sample soon.

[On the edge]

We will all have to give a DNA sample soon.

Agree!! for those who haven't donated already!

[Simon Kirby]

One can imagine, or rather one actually knows this is simply the start. Of course Parliament aren't interested in what you are doing - but 'Government' certainly is! Just think, without too much imagination, you can see just how Social Security means tested benefits can be checked, School catchment areas enforced, Communirty Charge registers maintained, tax records balanced. Soon they'll even know how much electricity you are using and when...so it goes on. I can understand how this is acceptable in a socialist society but arn't the Tories supposed to be the party of Freedom? What a squalid little stich up - yet another stich up. It's OK - I love big brother...

I don't have any great problem with the state eaves-dropping on criminals, it's just when I think about what that actually means. For example, would all of you be completely happy for the Town Council or WBC to know your identity and tie that to what you post here and for them to see the contents of every e-mail you send or web page you browse? "The State" isn't a discrete professional like your doctor with whom you can happily share your most intimate secrets with confidence.

[On the edge]

Yes, its somewhat ironic that the 'authorities' are trying to keep a very close watch on what we do - yet when you want to see what they've been up to - its a very different matter.

Whatever happened to words like integrity, service, upright and honour, to describe those in public service?