Privacy concerns raised over government communications database
Google is unsuitable to help manage Britain’s anti-terror database, according to the Government’s Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham.
The Home Office is planning to introduce a record of all communications (though not their content), including texts, emails, Facebook, Twitter and Skype messages for at least 12 months, following recommendations from the police and security services.
Labour initially envisioned this in the form of a central government database but it will now be managed by individual companies who will be tasked with keeping tabs on internet and telephone usage.
Graham argues however that Google has proven itself unsuitable for this role, pointing out that the company had been responsible for a “significant breach” of data protection rules after the firms StreetView mapping service illegally collected email and password information from users.
Of course many argue that a government overseer is no better but the coalition stress that regulations will ensure the database remains compatible with a pledge to “end the storage of email records without good reason.