Posted: 26th Feb, 2003 By: MarkJ
The government has backed down over their controversial Internet snooping plans, now saying that only five security services (Police etc.) will be given access to private phone, Internet and e-mail records:
Details of a consultation paper leaked to The Guardian reveal that the number of agencies with access to the data will now be limited.
Those which would have got access to private electronics communications data included seven Whitehall departments, every local authority in the country, NHS authorities in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and 11 agencies including the Postal Services Commission and the Food Standards Agency.
Pressure from civil liberties groups and internet service providers has forced a rethink of the policy.While it's a step in the right direction, many still feel that there isn't enough protection against possible abuse of the system; among other things. More @
VNUNet.