[CS-FSLUG] We will monitor your every click

[Fred A. Miller]

We will monitor your every click

By Sylvie Barak
<http://www.theinquirer.net/articles/flameAuthor/gb/inquirer/news/2008/11/07/british-government-spy>:
Friday, 07 November 2008, 7:13 PM



*BRITISH GOVERNMENT* plans to install black boxes at ISPs around the
country, in order to log every email and web site visit its citizens
make, are taking shape.

Shady Home Office officials have had talks with representatives from
British based ISPs including BT, AOL Europe, O2 and BSkyB and told them
of possible plans to implement the "black box" technology for storing
all raw data being transmitted over the Web. It would all be funnelled
into a giant central database controlled by the Government.

In British fashion, a huge public outcry over the news boiled down to
Britain’s Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, clearing his throat
a bit and muttering about the move going a "step too far". A Government
terrorism watchdog also grumbled a bit, under its breath, and called the
plan simply " awful".

The plan, dubbed the Interception Modernisation Programme (IMP), is
supposedly meant to help British intelligence catch bad guys and terrorists.

The endeavour will give the government greater "capacity" to monitor all
communication and traffic on the internet, without requiring any direct
input from the ISPs.

Smaller ISPs were told they would be completely unaffected by the evil
spying devices, as these would be installed upstream on the network and
completely paid for by Her Majesty’s government.

The Independent
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/government-black-boxes-will-collect-every-email-992268.html>,
who know all there is to know about MI5, MI6 and spying in general,
quoted a source close to the meeting as saying: "They said they only
wanted to return to a position they were in before the emergence of
internet communication, when they were able to monitor all
correspondence with a police suspect. "

The source went on to say that of course, this would mean the government
would be, "in a much better position to spy on many more people on the
basis of their internet behaviour”.

At the moment, plans for the database are just that, plans. But an
Internet Service Providers Association spinner said the organisation was
pleased the Home Office had addressed its members and was keen to
continue dialogue while awaiting a formal consultation. µ



http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/11/07/british-government-spy

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