Wednesday 29 April 2009

Data Surveillance Legislation UK

Following the last post and comment re: Right To Reply, here are basic details of the legislation:

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA); the British government paves the way for total communications surveillance. Comment and explanation from the Guardian. The Act is currently being reviewed in the light of concerns that local authorities have been using its powers for inappropriate purposes.

Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC from the EU laying down requirements for all ISPs and telephone companies to log and store personal data. Apparently the British government lobbied hard for this legislation.

Transposition of part of above Directive into UK law by Statutory Instrument, 2007 (the part covering telephone companies – the remainder, covering ISPs to be implemented in 2009). Further comment. The relevant Statutory Instrument.

Transposition of remaining part of above Directive concerning ISPs into UK law, 2009 (the part covering ISPs and all internet activity). Further comment. Schedule to relevant Statutory Instrument.

The Intercept Modernisation Programme, ie the government's own plan to create a central database of all recorded phone and internet data.

The government appears to drop plans for a centralised database, April 2009.

Any broken, incorrect links, please let me know. And any more direct links to the legislation.

No comments: