phone lookups (was:BBC News Online: 'Snoop' plans put on hold)

[Jeremy Barker]

Owen Lewis wrote:

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> > [mailto:ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk]On Behalf Of Richard D G
> > Cox
> > Sent: 21 June 2002 10:43
> > To: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> > Subject: Re: phone lookups (was:BBC News Online: 'Snoop' plans put on
> > hold)
> >
> > The difficulty in reliably identifying the source/destination of
> > a specific
> > telephone call to a particular person/business is far greater than people
> > here have suggested.  Data on a CD-Rom is likely to be out-of-date before
> > it is even duplicated; the rate of churn in telephone numbers is growing
> > rapidly and is likely to continue to grow.
>
> Quite so.
>
> > The UK electoral roll has been a valid source of concern to many because
> > of the risk of abuse/harassment, and that is why so many addresses now
> > appear to be vacant ... their residents have simply avoided registration!
>
> Sad, is it not?
>
> If govt is serious about its wish to reverse the decline in poll turnouts,
> it should see to it that entries on the electoral role are treated as
> confidential and not as a commercial resource. Unless it does, the decline
> in registration is likely to continue.

The electoral register has always been a public document and I firmly believe
that it must remain so. If it is lost in its current form the UK would become
about the only industrialised country (certainly the only one in Europe) not to
have such a record available for uses such as the prevention of fraud.

The decline in poll turnouts is based on the percentage of registered voters
who vote so, if anything, people not registering would probably not increase
the turnout as anyone who values the right to vote is unlikely to fail to
register.  In any case it is a crime to fail to register if you are entitled to
do so.

By all means allow an alternative for those who have genuine cause to fear for
their safety - they should be allowed to register using a different address
(probably their local police station) on production of a certificate from the
police or the Security Service.

jb