ChatterBank1 min ago
Should Internet Companies Store Details Of Website Visits?
May calls for internet companies to store details of website visits:
http:// www.the guardia n.com/p olitics /2015/n ov/03/m ay-call s-for-i nternet -compan ies-to- store-d etails- of-webs ite-vis its
From the Guardian:
David Anderson QC, the terror legislation watchdog commissioned to report on the state of Britain’s surveillance laws in the aftermath of Snowden’s disclosures...
“Under this definition a web log would reveal that a user had visited eg google.com or bbc.co.uk but not the specific page,” said Anderson in his report, A Question of Trust. “It could also of course reveal ... that a user has visited a pornography site or a site for sufferers of a particular medical condition, though the Home Office tells me it is in practice very difficult to piece together a browsing history.”
So, should internet companies be forced to store and share your visiting history?
It is alleged there will be "strong controls" on the data. To me it seems like we're being asked to trust the government's word on this one!
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From the Guardian:
David Anderson QC, the terror legislation watchdog commissioned to report on the state of Britain’s surveillance laws in the aftermath of Snowden’s disclosures...
“Under this definition a web log would reveal that a user had visited eg google.com or bbc.co.uk but not the specific page,” said Anderson in his report, A Question of Trust. “It could also of course reveal ... that a user has visited a pornography site or a site for sufferers of a particular medical condition, though the Home Office tells me it is in practice very difficult to piece together a browsing history.”
So, should internet companies be forced to store and share your visiting history?
It is alleged there will be "strong controls" on the data. To me it seems like we're being asked to trust the government's word on this one!
Answers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.This is exactly the same as the business post through your letterbox, Sharon. The postman doesn't know what the letter says but he knows who it is going to and who it is from - look at the back of the envelope, or even the front it it is from Sky or Virgin.
I'm in two minds about it - I can see the need for surveillance in these troubling times but I'm uneasy about breach of privacy
I'm in two minds about it - I can see the need for surveillance in these troubling times but I'm uneasy about breach of privacy
It should not be stored by default as it is an abuse to a citizen's right to privacy. Individual folk, whom the authorities have reason to suspect is committing criminal activity, should be able to be monitored but only with the safeguard of a judge's permission. Once obtained the ISPs can add them to the short list. I do not see how commercial companies come into this. Is it also to include illegal organisations and terrorist groups who will have to submit lists or is it only normal citizens one wishes to nose at ?
I believe I held earlier today that the judge's say so was included. Not been keeping a close eye on how this is going though.
I believe I held earlier today that the judge's say so was included. Not been keeping a close eye on how this is going though.
I am sure the ISPs have this data already since the police and Security Companies can request it now. The law makes it mandatory to keep the data and mandatory to hand ot over.
Since the ISPs know your history, I see nothing wrong with making it obliitary to retain the information for 12 months.
But there should be stringent safeguards put in place for accessing the data. The police should not be given carte blanche to randomly fish the data. They must have a genuine suspicion that a specific crime has occurred or may occur. I would be happy with requests having to be signed off by the Independent Police Commissioners.
Since the ISPs know your history, I see nothing wrong with making it obliitary to retain the information for 12 months.
But there should be stringent safeguards put in place for accessing the data. The police should not be given carte blanche to randomly fish the data. They must have a genuine suspicion that a specific crime has occurred or may occur. I would be happy with requests having to be signed off by the Independent Police Commissioners.
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