Guardian: Privacy fear over (new) plan to store email (fwd)

[Owen Blacker]

I meant to send this here too.

> http://www.guardian.co.uk/netprivacy/article/0,2763,777574,00.html
>
> Full text at the href above.  Highlights:
>
>  * EU governments will next month decide a proposal to store ALL
>    traffic data for EU-ended comms for between one and two YEARS
>
>  * This traffic data would be available to all EU govts.
>
>  * Plan leaked to Statewatch
>    <http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/aug/05datafd1.htm>
>
>  * Move initially explained as anti-"terrorism", now to be used
>    against all serious crime, including paedophilia and racism.
>    (quoting the Grauniad)
>
>  * Decision a victory for Britain and the US, against more liberal
>    EU regimes.  EU-wide policy will be harmonised by this proposal
>
>  * EU admits plan an invasion of privacy but specifies retention
>    periods as minimum 12 months, maximum 24 months.
>
>  * Minimum list of offences:
>    "participation in a criminal organisation, terrorism, trafficking
>    in human beings, sexual exploitation of children", drug
>    trafficking, money laundering, fraud, racism, hijacking,
>    "computer-related" crime and "motor vehicle crime".
>
>  * "Confidentiality and integrity" of retained traffic data must
>    be "ensured", by methods unspecified.
>
>  * No individual right to check accuracy of data. No individual
>    right to challenge decisions on its use by EU authorities.
>
>  * Member states will not be able to refuse a request from another
>    Member state on the grounds of Human Rights or Privacy.
>
>  * No common EU list of crimes caught by the plan. No list of
>    agencies who would have access.
>
> The only silver linings:
>
>  * EU plan suggests traffic data should only be accessible with
>    judicial oversight.  This might mean we have to amend RIP.
>    Doubtless, Britain isn't gonna like this provision, irrespective
>    of any affect on existing statute.
>
>  * Elizabeth France (Information Commissioner, the title that used
>    to be the Data Protection Commissioner) has cast doubt on the
>    legality (under the HRA) of the ATCSA rushed thru Westminster
>    post 9/11.
> 
> Read also the leader column at
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/netprivacy/article/0,2763,777568,00.html

-- 
Owen Blacker | Senior Software Developer and InfoSecurity Consultant
See http://www.owens-place.org.uk/pgp.html -- more about my PGP keys
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--
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 safety deserve neither liberty nor safety --Benjamin Franklin, 1759

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