Re: [Patents] UK pushes EU data retention directive

["Nick Fleming" <Nick@bigfatpanda.fsnet.co.uk>]

> >
> >   http://www.guardian.co.uk/Print/0%2C3858%2C4484984%2C00.html
> >
> >   EU wants data retained to help fight against crime
> >
> > the EU is, as a minor side effect of "harmonising national laws", going
to
> > mandate data retention and storage of all internet data in the EU for
the
> > purpose of all kinds of police investigation after court order.  The
> > article describes this as a major victory for the UK, whose government
has
> > been pushing this directive.
> >
> > It somehow reminds me of the UK's role in another directive proposal.
> >
> > http://swpat.ffii.org/players/uk/
>
> See also
>
> UK government world leader in mass surveillance
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2237050.stm
>
> Privacy & Human Rights 2002: UK record particularly bad
> http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/phr2002/
>
> Maybe it's a mere coincidence.
>

Its a coincidence i think.

From a policing point of view I think scanning emails
is going to be a bit pointless (not to mention the near
impossible task of storing + searching the data) as any
criminal organisation worth investigating probably
has its email servers located well outside the EU
(well they will now).

Regards,

Nick.