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Government's data powers ineffective against terror, says watchdog Government's data powers ineffective against terror, says watchdog
(35 minutes later)
Controversial new powers for the police and security services to access personal communications data will be ineffective against terrorism or serious organised crime, the official information watchdog has warned.Controversial new powers for the police and security services to access personal communications data will be ineffective against terrorism or serious organised crime, the official information watchdog has warned.
Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, said the measures in the draft data communications bill would only catch "the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist".Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, said the measures in the draft data communications bill would only catch "the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist".
At the same time, he said, he was not being given either the powers or the resources necessary to regulate the new system and ensure the information collected was not being abused.At the same time, he said, he was not being given either the powers or the resources necessary to regulate the new system and ensure the information collected was not being abused.
Under the proposals, internet providers and other information service providers will be required to retain records of all communications for 12 months, which the police and security services will have access to.Under the proposals, internet providers and other information service providers will be required to retain records of all communications for 12 months, which the police and security services will have access to.
The records will include emails, web phone calls and activity on social networking sites.The records will include emails, web phone calls and activity on social networking sites.
But giving evidence to a joint committee of MPs and peers set up to scrutinise the Bill, Graham said the controls could easily be evaded by experienced criminals.But giving evidence to a joint committee of MPs and peers set up to scrutinise the Bill, Graham said the controls could easily be evaded by experienced criminals.
"If you are the sort of international terrorist or organised criminal whom this system is designed for, you presumably will have the wit not to go to one of the big six [information service providers]," he said."If you are the sort of international terrorist or organised criminal whom this system is designed for, you presumably will have the wit not to go to one of the big six [information service providers]," he said.
"You will find a small provider and might well be able to afford the £5-a-month to buy your own private network registered overseas and then all your traffic will be encrypted and you are home free."You will find a small provider and might well be able to afford the £5-a-month to buy your own private network registered overseas and then all your traffic will be encrypted and you are home free.
"The really scary people will have worked that out for themselves. This is a system which, on the face of it, is looking for the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist.""The really scary people will have worked that out for themselves. This is a system which, on the face of it, is looking for the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist."
Home Office highlights gaps in online surveillance of criminals Theresa May and Kenneth Clarke urge Tories to back security plan
8 May 2012 5 Apr 2012
A quarter of police and agencies' data requests not met, says official, as government prepares to unveil web tracking laws Ministers tell party to support government on surveillance and claim access to sensitive data is crucial to deport terror suspects
26 Nov 200126 Nov 2001
Stand-off looms over anti-terror billStand-off looms over anti-terror bill
29 Apr 200729 Apr 2007
Data tsar attacks surveillance UKData tsar attacks surveillance UK
3 Jun 20113 Jun 2011
It's complacent to believe these cyber threats are just the same old problemsIt's complacent to believe these cyber threats are just the same old problems
21 Nov 200721 Nov 2007
Privacy watchdog calls for power to carry out spot checksPrivacy watchdog calls for power to carry out spot checks
Theresa May and Kenneth Clarke urge Tories to back security plan Watchdog attacks Straw's 'back to front' bill
5 Apr 2012 16 May 2000
Ministers tell party to support government on surveillance and claim access to sensitive data is crucial to deport terror suspects Jack Straw's freedom of information bill has been attacked for being "over complex" and drafted " back to front " by Elizabeth France, data protection commissioner - the very person whom the home secretary wants to appoint to oversee the new legislation.
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Information commissioner says drat data communications bill will only catch 'the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist'Information commissioner says drat data communications bill will only catch 'the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist'
Controversial new powers for the police and security services to access personal communications data will be ineffective against terrorism or serious organised crime, the official information watchdog has warned.Controversial new powers for the police and security services to access personal communications data will be ineffective against terrorism or serious organised crime, the official information watchdog has warned.
Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, said the measures in the draft data communications bill would only catch "the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist".Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, said the measures in the draft data communications bill would only catch "the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist".
At the same time, he said, he was not being given either the powers or the resources necessary to regulate the new system and ensure the information collected was not being abused.At the same time, he said, he was not being given either the powers or the resources necessary to regulate the new system and ensure the information collected was not being abused.
Under the proposals, internet providers and other information service providers will be required to retain records of all communications for 12 months, which the police and security services will have access to.Under the proposals, internet providers and other information service providers will be required to retain records of all communications for 12 months, which the police and security services will have access to.
The records will include emails, web phone calls and activity on social networking sites.The records will include emails, web phone calls and activity on social networking sites.
But giving evidence to a joint committee of MPs and peers set up to scrutinise the Bill, Graham said the controls could easily be evaded by experienced criminals.But giving evidence to a joint committee of MPs and peers set up to scrutinise the Bill, Graham said the controls could easily be evaded by experienced criminals.
"If you are the sort of international terrorist or organised criminal whom this system is designed for, you presumably will have the wit not to go to one of the big six [information service providers]," he said."If you are the sort of international terrorist or organised criminal whom this system is designed for, you presumably will have the wit not to go to one of the big six [information service providers]," he said.
"You will find a small provider and might well be able to afford the £5-a-month to buy your own private network registered overseas and then all your traffic will be encrypted and you are home free."You will find a small provider and might well be able to afford the £5-a-month to buy your own private network registered overseas and then all your traffic will be encrypted and you are home free.
"The really scary people will have worked that out for themselves. This is a system which, on the face of it, is looking for the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist.""The really scary people will have worked that out for themselves. This is a system which, on the face of it, is looking for the incompetent criminal and the accidental anarchist."